[Lefty Noob]

Not sure this qualified as a trivia question because I don't know the answer. I'm hoping someone out there does, maybe one of our resident historians. I've been curious for a while as to who the first person was to actually dub Richard Petty as "The King" or "King Richard". The only think I can find out is that the name originated in 1967 due to his dominance that year (this according to Wikipedia). Was it a fellow driver, or a member of the media, or whom that originated the nickname?

[vincesanity82]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

Not sure this qualified as a trivia question because I don't know the answer. I'm hoping someone out there does, maybe one of our resident historians. I've been curious for a while as to who the first person was to actually dub Richard Petty as "The King" or "King Richard". The only think I can find out is that the name originated in 1967 due to his dominance that year (this according to Wikipedia). Was it a fellow driver, or a member of the media, or whom that originated the nickname?

I heard back in '67 he was in a grocery store and picked up some bread, the cashier looked at the bread and said "king size" and he replied "I guess im the king" ever since its stuck.. yea, anyway, im actually curious to know the real anwser as well..surely lsc knows, hes the old wise one..

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by vincesanity82

I heard back in '67 he was in a grocery store and picked up some bread, the cashier looked at the bread and said "king size" and he replied "I guess im the king" ever since its stuck.. yea, anyway, im actually curious to know the real anwser as well..surely lsc knows, hes the old wise one..

Sorry to ruin your image of my knowledge. I always theought his first name was "The" and his last was "King". I just found out in the last few days that his name is really Richard Petty !!!!!

[Lefty Noob]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

Sorry to ruin your image of my knowledge. I always theought his first name was "The" and his last was "King". I just found out in the last few days that his name is really Richard Petty !!!!!

Where's Bob Tanner or Racer Duck when you need them?

[Quality88]

I don't know who called him that, I just know it was after the year he dominated with 27 wins that he was referred to as "The King".

[vincesanity82]

well this is what I could find

1967 was also the year when Petty was given the nickname by which he is best known. "A bunch of reporters got together, sitting around drinking their Budweisers, and got to talkin'," he told Bruce Lowitt of the St. Petersburg Times. "If my name had been Dale or Kyle or Darrell, it wouldn't have sounded like much. I mean, King Dale? But Richard was just a natural to go with King. They just throwed it in there. They'd been trying to name me the Randleman Rocket, all kinds of names. Never took hold. But first time anybody saw King Richard, it stuck."

Richard Petty - Joins The Nascar Circuit

heres a good list of nicknames in nascar..

NASCAR Driver Nicknames
Current Drivers:
Kurt Busch - "Ears"
Kyle Busch - "Shrub"
Dale Earnhardt Jr. - "Junior," "Junebug," "Little 'E'"
"Cousin Carl" Edwards
Jeff Gordon - "Wonder Boy," "The Kid," "The Rainbow Warrior"
Robby "Flash" Gordon
Kevin "Happy" Harvick
Ron Hornaday - "Master of the Restart"
"Texas Terry" LaBonte - "Ice Man"
"Front Row Joe" Nemechek
Ryan "Rocketman" Newman
Ricky "Rooster" Rudd - "Ironman"
Elliott Sadler - The 'Candyman'
Jimmy Spencer - "Mr. Excitement"
"Big Track Jack" Sprague
Tony "Smoke" Stewart
Kenny Wallace - "Herman the German"
Past Drivers:
Elzie Wylie "Buck" Baker Sr.
Elzie Wylie "Buddy" Baker Jr. - "The Gentle Giant"
James Ronald "Runkie" Blackburn
Curtis "Crawfish" Crider
Dale Earnhardt - "The Intimidator," "The Man In Black," "Ironhead," "One Tough Customer"
Ralph Earnhardt - "Ironheart"
"Million Dollar Bill" Elliott - "Aweomse Bill from Dawsonville"
Charles "Red" Farmer
"Handsome Harry" Gant - "Mr. September" (earned in 1991 when he won four consecutive races in September)
"Gentleman Jimmy" Hensley
"Gentleman Ned" Jarrett
Junior Johnson - "The Ronda Road Runner"
Roy "Buckshot" Jones
Fred Lorenzen - "The Golden Boy"
DeWayne "Tiny" Lund
MIke "Magic Shoes" McLaughlin
Everett "Cotton" Owens
David Pearson - "The Silver Fox"
Richard Petty - "The King," "King Richard"
"Duffle bag Doug" Richert
Glenn "Fireball" Roberts
"Alfalfa Jim" Roper
Wayman "Hut" Stricklin
Curtis "Pops" Turner
Darrell Waltrip - "DW," "Jaws"
"Little Joe" Weatherly - "The Clown Prince of Racing"
Cale Yarborough - "The Timmonsville Flash"
Henry "Smokey" Yunick
Multiple Drivers:
"Alabama Gang" - Bobby Allison, Donnie Allison, Red Farmer, Jimmy Means, Davey Allison, Neil Bonnett, David Bonnett and Hut Stricklin
"Double Bud Thunder" - Darrell Waltrip and Neil Bonnett
Pit Crews:
#8 - Brew Crew
#17 - The Killer Bees
#24 - The Rainbow Warriors
#38 - M&M's Chocolate Thunder
Crew Chiefs:
Robert "Bootie" Barker
"Suitcase Jake" Elder
Tony "Pops" Eury
Tony "Stiffy" Eury Jr.
Richard "Slugger" Labbe
Kevin "Bono" Manion
Mike "Fatback" McSwain
Jack Roush - "The Cat in the Hat"
Craig "Frosty" Smokstad
Kevin "Cowboy" Starland
Greg "Zippy" Zipadelli
Scott "Saki" Zipadelli
Pit Crew Members:
Danny "Chocolate" Myers - former #3 gasman
Brian "Shaggy" Larson - #20 catch can man
Mitch Lash, #12 jackman - "Frank the Tank"
Scott "Scooter" Crowell - #20 2nd gasman/backup truck driver
Owners:
Roger Penske - "The Captain"
Jack Roush - "The Cat in the Hat"
Glen Wood - "Woodchopper"
Tracks:
Bristol Motor Speedway - "Thunder Valley"
Darlington Raceway - "The Lady in Black," "The Track Too Tough To Tame"
Daytona International Speedway - "World Center of Racing"
Dover International Speedway - "The Monster Mile," "White Lightning"
Indianapolis Motor Speedway - "The Brickyard"
Martinsville Speedway - "The "Augusta National" of race tracks, "The Paperclip"
New Hampshire International Speedway - "The Magic Mile"
Phoenix International Speedway - "Jewel of the Desert"
Pocono International Raceway - "The Bermuda Triangle"
Richmond International Speedway - "The Action Track"
Rockingham Motor Speedway - "The Rock"
Texas Motor Speedway - "Texas 500," "The Great American Speedway"
Watkins Glen International - "The Glen"

[Pepsi One]

Shouldn't he be referred to as the king of 1967, and not Nascar then!

[Phils20]

Originally Posted by Quality88

I don't know who called him that, I just know it was after the year he dominated with 27 wins that he was referred to as "The King".

Seems good enough to me. I have a few books on his life, I will check it out in the morning. Good enough for me. Someone asked, and there is the answer.

King of 1967. I give up. Wish he would.

[Lefty Noob]

Originally Posted by Pepsi One

Shouldn't he be referred to as the king of 1967, and not Nascar then!

If you're not interested in the answer to this question, then please keep out of this thread. This is a trivia thead, not open to debate.

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

Where's Bob Tanner or Racer Duck when you need them?

dunno about Bob, but I stayed out of this one until somebody else found the light. to me he was always "The King".

[Robertdjr]

I'm believe vincesanity82 is right. That's what's in his biography anyway.

But it took "The King" 805 races to win 7 championships, only 8 of which were in what's considered the "modern era".
It took Dale Earnhardt only 480 races to win 7 championships, all of which were in that "modern era".
Yes, "The King" won more races than anybody and holds lots of records,
but if you base your judgement solely on championships, it's pretty evident, statistically, "The Intimidator" ruled.

Stats on "The King": Richard Petty Career Statistics - Racing-Reference.info

Stats on "The Intimidator: Dale Earnhardt Career Statistics - Racing-Reference.info

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by 3fanforever

I'm believe vincesanity82 is right. That's what's in his biography anyway.

But it took "The King" 805 races to win 7 championships, only 8 of which were in what's considered the "modern era".
It took Dale Earnhardt only 480 races to win 7 championships, all of which were in that "modern era".
Yes, "The King" won more races than anybody and holds lots of records,
but if you base your judgement solely on championships, it's pretty evident, statistically, "The Intimidator" ruled.

Stats on "The King": Richard Petty Career Statistics - Racing-Reference.info

Stats on "The Intimidator: Dale Earnhardt Career Statistics - Racing-Reference.info

finally someone who understands Championships aren't the only measure of success.

[Phils20]

All of that may be true. But the thing folks need to know, or maybe just get into their head, is that once King Richard got the nick name, you can't just pass it on!

There will never be a new "intimidator", even if someone else comes along and drives with the same style.

All this comparing numbers, and getting a bit offeneded that folks call him the "King", really doesn't matter!

To me, the "King", is just that, a nickname.

Just like "The intimidator".

Does anyone remember when he wrecked Ricky Rudd, and when Rudd was asked about the nickname??

His response was something like this. "That is just a name folks came up with to sell T-shirts"

Now, I wouldn't go that far, but I'm sure that while his talent may have made some folks wary, no one just pulled over and let him pass!

The fans of newer drivers these days really need to not let that offend them, as the person, who is now banned, seemed to let if offend him!

They were both great drivers, and I just fail to see the need for folks to continue to find ways to try to cut down the King! He was the King of his era, like Dale was of his, and Gordon is of this one.

Ya just can't pass the name on. Too bad the Gordon is stuck with some of the crappy names folks come up with for him.

Funny how the same crowd that doesn't like either. In general, the Dale Sr fans don't like to give credit to Petty of Gordon, and they may both have been better than him.

Take out the last 10 years of Petty's career, he drove waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay past his prime, and the numbers bet a bit better.

The big number of races he drove a week early in his career hurt him at the end. Hell, he never even wore gloves, not even in his last race.

Let the 70 year old man be!

He paid his dues, and helped bring the sport to the level it is today. Then Sr took it to the next level, and Gordon has been here during the rise we have today.

All three are great, and all three were very different.

I salute them all, and don't have any need, or bitterness, to the drivers that came after Petty! They have earned my respect!

[Racer Duck]

Bravo!

ya have to respect them. their record speaks for itself. denigrate them as you might, they are still the top dogs during their eras.

I remember the first I became interested in the World Series: the Dodgers and Yankees in '56 .. they broadcast the game over the PA at school (I was in 7th grade) .. the '56 Dodgers instantly became my favorite team of all time even though they lost the series that year. and the first time I saw "The King" run, I knew he was just like my '56 Dodgers - my all-time favorite. like my Dodgers, The King won some and lost some, but, unlike my Dodgers, stayed true to his roots, never looking for greener pastures (not that it's bad, just something fans have to deal with.) there are others who've been my heroes over the years (Bobby Allison and Allan Kulwicki come to mind), The King always was and always will be The King to me and the Dodgers should have won! nobody or nothing can steal that sunshine from my memories.

[Robertdjr]

Dont get me wrong, I wasn't taking away from Richard Petty being called "The King". I believe if you base your judgment on his total career, not just his championships, he rightly deserves the title. But if you base your judgment solely on championships, then it becomes more debatable between him and Dale, since they both are tied for #1 with 7, and it took Dale less time to reach 7 in a different and possibly more difficult era.

And I may be an exception to the rule if you think Sr. fans don't give credit to Petty and Gordon. I also believe NASCAR runs in cycles and there's always been someone there to pick NASCAR up and carry it forward as another is leaving. Kind of like passing on the torch.

The King was the man in his era. He had the torch. When Richard faded, Dale Sr was there and he took the torch and carried it. When Dale was killed, Jeff Gordon was there and he took hold of the torch and carries it still today. He will until he either suffers the same fate as Dale did (lets pray that doesn't happen because I would never want anyone to go through that like we did in 2001) or he retires. Then someone will be there to pick up the torch from him and carry it.

So I give a great amount of credit to all three. I know allot of my friends can't stand Jeff Gordon, and we get into discussions about that allot. But I find myself defending him to a point because of what he's done for NASCAR, and because he's one heck of a race car driver. My fellow Earnhardt fans hate it when I say that, but oh well, that's reality. I may not like the direction NASCAR has taken with Gordon, because I'm an old NASCAR fan, and I may not like Jeff Gordon, but I can't honestly deny his impact on the popularity of "stock car racing". That would be like denying Richard Petty's contribution to NASCAR or Dale Earnhardt's contribution to NASCAR, each in their own way and time.

So I really admire and respect both Petty and Gordon, just not as much as Dale