Stories

Not Racing Petty

There is no doubt . . . when folks began racing each other in automobiles. It was the day they built the second automobile."  ~ Richard Petty

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This story is about an event that never happened - The day I almost raced Petty!

Not long after I bought my 2005 Mustang and after the new Charger came out, Austin, grandson of Richard Petty, matriculated to VMI. 

We already had one of the Luck boys in school, so we were accustomed to seeing the Petty family around Post. Richard came to a few parades, wearing his signature black-feathered Cowboy Hat, go-to-hell Belt Buckle, and all. The family gave CPT Sarah and me free passes to Richard Petty Driving Experience to drive at Winston-Salem Raceway.

While he was at VMI, Austin became a big hit with the women in the Commandant's Office who were NASCAR fans. He spent his time there, probably too much time for a Rat.

After Family Weekend, the ladies told me to come to the office. There sat Austin. "Tell Him," Sandy said to Austin.

Austin jumped to attention. I told him to sit and relax. He told me about his trip to Wal-Mart with his father, Kyle, the past weekend.

His dad was following me on Highway 11 in his new Dodge Charger when Austin said, "That's the Sergeant Major in his Mustang." His dad said, "We should race him."  Austin begged him not to do that, saying it would get him in trouble.

I stood there for a moment while that sank in.

I yelled, "What!? I had a chance to race Kyle Petty, and you ruined it for me, Rat? I could have talked about racing your dad for the rest of my life. Now, all I will ever be able to say is that I Almost Raced Petty. I should have you do pushups until your arms fall off!"

I told him I was kidding to keep him from jumping off the 4th stoop, but I wasn't. Bess and I would have happily blown Petty's weak-ass Dodge off the road.