By TaurusEmerald - Own work, <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/">CC BY-SA 4.0</a>, <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=154126334">https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=154126334</a>
Richard Petty has logged more miles than just about anyone in American racing, but on Tuesday the King added a new ride to the list: Air Force One.
The 89-year-old NASCAR Hall of Famer flew with President Donald Trump to Greenville, North Carolina, where the President held a midterm campaign rally at Pitt-Greenville Airport in support of Republican Senate candidate Michael Whatley. Petty later shared photos from the flight on his Facebook page, cowboy hat and signature sunglasses firmly in place, with a simple caption: “A special ride for The King of NASCAR!”
From the cockpit to the podium
Once on the ground, Petty joined the President onstage and did what he knows best: talk racing. He framed the Senate race as a NASCAR event, casting Trump as the driver and voters as the pit crew, and called the President “a big racing fan.” He is a car guy too, as a look inside Donald Trump’s garage shows.
Trump returned the compliment, calling Petty “a true legend” and a great guy respected by everybody. He also got a quick lesson in the record books, joking that he’d guessed Petty had 44 wins before being reminded the real number is 200. He called the pit crew comparison “pretty cool.”
Not his first lap
Petty is no stranger to the campaign trail. He has appeared at Trump rallies before and has been spotted with the President at several NASCAR races. He even ran for North Carolina secretary of state himself back in 1996.
Fans noticed the moment, too. The post racked up more than 25,000 reactions within hours, with one commenter pointing out that Petty has been photographed with every sitting President since 1969, and that the pictures are on display at his museum in Level Cross, N.C.
The King, by the numbers
A quick refresher for anyone who needs it: Petty holds the all-time record with 200 Cup Series wins, claimed seven championships, and still calls Randleman, N.C., home. He also co-owns Legacy Motor Club. Two hundred wins, seven titles, and now one very official set of wings.
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Featured photo: By TaurusEmerald – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=154126334
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