Martinsville in Henry County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Petty 75 Years of Racing
Photographed by Mike Wintermantel, December 9, 2025
1. Petty 75 Years of Racing Marker
Inscription.
Since 1949, the Petty family has been a permanent fixture in NASCAR, helping to define and grow the sport for the past seven decades. The Petty family's involvement began as a family business with the patriarch, Lee, who won three championships, alongside his wife, Elizabeth, and two sons, Richard and Maurice. From there, Richard became "The King" of stock car racing with 200 wins and seven championships. As a master engine builder, Maurice played a critical role in the success of Petty Enterprises, contributing to wins not only for his father and brother, but also for numerous other drivers such as Buddy Baker, Pete Hamilton, and Jim Paschal. The Petty family's involvement in NASCAR has continued through multiple generations with Kyle Petty (Richard's son), winning eight races over a 30-year career, and Adam Petty (Kyle's son), becoming the first fourth-generation professional athlete to compete in any sport when he ran his first Cup race in 2000. The family has left an enduring legacy and their name is synonymous with NASCAR history.
MARTINSVILLE SPEEDWAY
The Short Track
The Petty family began building its stock
Click or scan to see this page online
car racing history with Lee in 1949, and since that very first year, Martinsville Speedway has played a pivotal role in their story. In 1947, Martinsville Speedway began hosting races, just a few months before the inception of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR). Then in 1949, Lee Petty raced in and won-his very first NASCAR race at the historic short track. And so began the intertwined legacy of the Pettys and Martinsville Speedway Nearly 10 years after his first season, Lee's son Richard began his NASCAR career in 1958, and two years later, he took the checkered flag to secure the first of his many wins at Martinsville Speedway, opening another chapter in the storied legacy, Richard Petty went on to break numerous records in NASCAR year after year, earning his famous nickname "The King." He currently holds the record for most wins at Martinsville Speedway at 15. Richard Petty's first three wins at Martinsville took place in the years before the coveted Grandfather Clock tradition began in 1964, but he began collecting them in 1967 and ended his career with 12 Grandfather Clocks in total. As the Petty family
Photographed by Mike Wintermantel, December 9, 2025
2. Petty 75 Years of Racing Marker
celebrates a milestone anniversary in NASCAR, Martinsville Speedway is proud to have been a part of that storied history for 75 years and counting
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Sports. A significant historical year for this entry is 1949.
Location. 36° 38.115′ N, 79° 51.181′ W. Marker is in Martinsville, Virginia, in Henry County. It is at the intersection of Speedway Road and 47th Street, on the right when traveling east on Speedway Road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Martinsville VA 24112, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Southern Virginia. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Upper South. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Martinsville Speedway
Photographed by Mike Wintermantel, December 9, 2025
Photographed by Mike Wintermantel, December 9, 2025
4. Petty 75 Years of Racing Marker
Back side of marker sporting Richard "The King" Petty's iconic hat.
Credits. This page was last revised on December 15, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 15, 2025, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 63 times since then and 27 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on December 15, 2025, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
