Richard Petty — the legendary king of stock car racing — is coming to World Wide Technology Raceway to kick off the speedway‘s inaugural NASCAR Cup Series weekend in style. Richard Petty Day presented by Bommarito Automotive Group will begin on Friday, June 3, at 2 p.m. with a fan Q&A followed by a ribbon-cutting ceremony on the start-finish line. Petty then will make the ceremonial first laps on the track in his 1981 Daytona 500-winning car prior to the very first NASCAR Cup Series practice session on the 1.25-mile oval.
Petty rightfully earned his title of King Richard by winning seven NASCAR Cup Series championships and 200 races, including a record seven Daytona 500s. He also holds the record for most wins in one season (27) and most consecutive wins (10). The stock car superstar began racing in 1958 (at CNE Exhibition Stadium in Toronto) and retired in 1992. He was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2010.
“I’ve been a dedicated race fan for decades and to have the opportunity to partner with Richard Petty and Petty GMS has been an opportunity of a lifetime,” said Chuck Wallis, Vice President and General Manager of the Bommarito Automotive Group. “To be able to be involved in the motorsports industry at the level Bommarito has dedicated to it is an absolute dream come true. How great is it that we now get to incorporate Petty blue — the most iconic brand in motorsports — with ours. Great partners and friends.”
The Bommarito Automotive Group will sponsor the No. 43 Petty GMS Motorsports NASCAR Cup Series car of driver Erik Jones of Byron, Michigan.
The Bommarito Automotive Group will donate 4,300 June 3 tickets to charities in underserved areas in honor of Richard Petty.
Fans purchasing an oil change or service at Bommarito Service Centers during the month of May will receive two complimentary tickets and free parking for Richard Petty Day presented by Bommarito Automotive Group on June 3.
The first 1,000 fans through the WWTR gates on June 3 will receive a Bommarito-Richard Petty souvenir.
June 3 — Richard Petty Day presented by Bommarito Automotive Group schedule
2 p.m. — Governors of Illinois and Missouri will proclaim June 3 as Richard Petty Day. Proclamations presented to Richard on Midway Stage (across from Turn 4 Club), followed by Q&A session.
3 p.m. — Richard Petty, Erik Jones and John Bommarito will unveil the Bommarito Automotive Group No. 43 Chevrolet (pit road).
3:45 p.m. — Richard will participate in a ribbon-cutting ceremony on start-finish line to officially open NASCAR Cup Series Weekend.
3:50 p.m. — Richard will make the ceremonial first laps on the track in his 1981 Daytona 500-winning car prior to the very first NASCAR Cup Series practice session.
4 p.m. — John Bommarito will wave the green flag on the very first NASCAR Cup Series practice session at WWTR.
4:50 p.m. — Richard Petty media availabilities. Following media interviews, Richard will make hand and boot imprints in cement (ala Grauman‘s Theatre in Hollywood) as the first inductee into the Gateway Racing Walk of Fame.
— World Wide Technology Raceway —
