LOS ANGELES – Julien’s Auctions will sell memorabilia from the collection of Richard Petty  at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas on May 12. “The King’s” spectacular collection of race-winning cars, trophies, racing suits, memorabilia and more will stand atop the auction podium in this grand prix auction event of the season for motorsports fans and collectors. Absentee and Internet live bidding is available through LiveAuctioneers.

Richard Petty, the Hall of Famer and the most decorated driver in NASCAR history, posted 200 career race wins, seven Daytona 500 wins and seven NASCAR Championships, continues to be celebrated by millions of fans and peers.

Born July 2, 1937 in Level Cross, North Carolina, Richard Lee Petty is a second-generation driver whose late father, Lee Petty, a three-time NASCAR Champion, was the patriarch of the Petty family-racing dynasty. At the age of 21, Richard Petty embarked on his NASCAR career and was named NASCAR Rookie of the Year in 1959. In 1960, he produced his first career win at the Charlotte Fairgrounds Speedway and throughout the decade broke out as NASCAR’s greatest star, capturing the Daytona 500 twice as the first driver to accomplish this feat. In 1967, Petty collected 27 victories, including 10 in a row, both still NASCAR records.

On the Fourth of July in 1984, Petty triumphed in one of the most memorable races in history at the Firecracker 400 at Daytona International Speedway, beating Cale Yarborough in a breathtaking final lap. Petty’s historic 200th race win, which he rode to victory in his trademark No. 43 STP Pontiac, was attended by President Ronald Reagan, the first President to attend a NASCAR race. Petty retired after the 1992 season finishing an illustrious racing career that resulted in records and honors unmatched by any other driver in history including being named NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver eight times; inductions in the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America, the International Motorsports Hall of Fame, the inaugural NASCAR Hall of Fame, the North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame and the North Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame; and receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the first ever to be given to a motorsports athlete, bestowed by President George Bush in 1992.

Petty’s legacy continues to make an impact on and off the track with his work overseeing his race team Richard Petty Motorsports, Petty’s Garage high-performance speed shop and the Petty Museum, as well as his donation of land to build Victory Junction, a summer camp for children with various medical conditions. He also is the co-founder of the Petty Family Foundation.

“As Babe Ruth and Muhammad Ali were giants in their arenas, Richard Petty is one of the most significant sports figures of our time who elevated the world of motorsports to greatness,” said Darren Julien, president and chief executive officer of Julien’s Auctions. “He is a national treasure and Julien’s Auctions is honored to offer this winners circle of iconic items that represents The King’s legendary career, life and love of racing.”

Highlights of the auction include: the one and only dayglo red and Petty Blue 1974 Dodge Charger (estimate: $400,000-$600,000) that Petty rode to victory in 31 races including his fifth Daytona 500 win; a 1978 Chevrolet Monte Carlo driven in 1979 when Petty won his seventh Championship title (estimate: $200,000-$300,000) a 1992 Pontiac Grand Prix (estimate: $200,000-$300,000) that Petty drove during his fan appreciation farewell tour; his 1981 Daytona Win Trophy (estimate: $200,000-$300,000), the last of his seven Daytona 500 wins; a 2017 Ford Tribute Mustang (estimate: $120,000-$140,000) No. 43 (total production of 43) and titled to Richard Petty; a 1967 Darlington Win Trophy (estimate: $100,000-$200,000) for winning his first Southern 500, a victory that was part of Petty’s astonishing 10 in a row winning streak that year; a 2018 Ford F150 (estimate: $80,000-$100,000) and a 2018 Ford Mustang (estimate: $80,000-$100,000) both built professionally in Petty’s Garage; a 2009 Budweiser Dodge driven by Kasey Khane who won at Sonoma in 2009 (estimate: $20,000-$40,000); a 2008 Victory Motorcycle (estimate: $6,000-$8,000) made by Polaris, driven during the Kyle Petty Charity Ride (photo top left); Petty worn STP signed leather racing jacket (estimate: $1,000-$2,000); a Bobby Labonte signed Cherrios racing suit (estimate: $800-$1,000); a Marathon racing suit bearing Terry Labonte’s name (estimate: $800-$1,000); a vintage Lee and Richard Petty oil tank and pump used during the late 60s (estimate: $1,000-$2,000). The auction will also offer memorabilia and personal items including race programs, license plates, posters, trading cards, plaques and clothing.

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