How Old Is Richard Petty Today

I was standing in line at a convenience store the other day, three cups of coffee deep and barely functioning, when I heard a guy behind me brag to his buddy that he “drove like Richard Petty.” His friend squinted, took a long sip of a Monster Energy drink, and asked the question that stopped me mid-transaction: “Wait, is that guy even still alive?” I paid for my gas, got in my car, and realized I actually had no idea how old the King was. So I did what any sane person does: I went down a rabbit hole that ended with me yelling “SEVEN WINS IN A ROW!” at my cat.

Let’s get the math out of the way, because I know you’re here for the number. Richard Petty was born on July 2, 1937, which makes him a spry 87 years old as of today. Yes, you read that right—87. He’s been retired from full-time driving since 1992, but the man is still out there signing autographs, posing for photos, and generally being more active than I am after a single flight of stairs.

The man behind the sunglasses and the cowboy hat

If you’re under the age of forty, you might know Petty as “that guy with the huge sunglasses and the feather in his hat who waves from the pace car.” But let me tell you, that dude was demolishing the competition before your parents even met. He won 200 career races—a record that will likely never be touched, unless NASCAR suddenly decides to race cars on roller skates.

Here’s a fun little side note: He won the Daytona 500 seven times. Seven. That’s not a typo, and it’s not a glitch in the Matrix. It’s just Richard Petty being absurdly good at turning left for four hours. The guy literally has a race named after him now, the Coca-Cola 600’s cousin, the “Richard Petty 400” at Darlington—because when you’re the King, they name a race track’s biggest event after you.

But wait, how does he feel about being 87?

I imagine he feels a little like I do after a heavy Thanksgiving meal—mostly grateful, slightly sore, and absolutely refusing to nap because there’s a race to watch. In interviews, Petty keeps it classic: he jokes that he’s “just happy to wake up in the morning,” which is both humble and terrifyingly honest. You’ve got to love a man who treats advanced age like a fuel stop—quick, necessary, and no big deal.

And here’s the kicker: He still shows up to nearly every NASCAR race. Not in a “waving from the VIP suite” way, but literally in his trademark glasses, standing by his car hauler, shaking hands like he’s running for office. I saw a clip of him at a race last month—the man was holding a microfiber towel, wiping down his show car, and telling a kid a story about a 1967 Plymouth Belvedere. At 87, he’s more approachable than your average mall Santa.

Let’s talk about the legacy, because it’s getting heavy

You can’t talk about Richard Petty’s age without talking about everything he stacked on top of his time on Earth. He survived a horrific crash at Darlington in 1988 that broke his leg and nearly cost him a career—he was back in the car seven weeks later, because of course he was. He also dealt with the heartbreak of losing his grandson, Adam, in a practice crash in 2000. Through all of it, he kept that smile, that drawl, and that sense of humor that makes you think he’s just a good ol’ boy who accidentally fell into immortality.

How Richard Petty's Defining Role in the Movie 'Cars' Added to His Rich

Now, at 87, he’s still the owner of the #43 car—yes, the famous STP car with the orange and blue livery that looks like a retirement party for a barber pole. He’s seen drivers come and go, from his own son Kyle to Dale Earnhardt to Kyle Larson. When a young driver wins today, they still say they “grew up watching Petty,” which is wild because that’s like a kid today saying they grew up watching the guy who invented the wheel.

Let’s be real for a second

I’m not going to pretend that being 87 is the same as being 47. He moves a little slower, the voice is a bit more gravelly, and I’m pretty sure his hearing aid whistles every time he gets near a loud engine. But here’s the thing: Most 87-year-olds are arguing about the thermostat, not about tire pressure at Talladega. Petty is still the first guy to crack a joke about his own age, like when he said, “I’ve got more laps in my rearview than most folks have in their whole career.” That’s not a boast—it’s just math, and it’s beautiful.

So, to answer the guy in the convenience store: yes, the King is alive, he’s 87, and he’s probably somewhere right now signing a die-cast model of a 1970 Superbird. If you ever get the chance to see him in person, do yourself a favor and say hi. He’ll shake your hand, ask where you’re from, and then tell you a story that starts with “One time at Riverside…” and ends with you feeling like you just talked to a living legend.

And if you’re wondering how he stays so sharp at 87, I’ll let you in on a little secret from a recent interview. When asked about his diet or exercise, he just chuckled and said, “I drink sweet tea, eat fried chicken, and outrun everyone who thinks I’m slow.” Honestly, same, Richard. Same.

So next time someone asks you, “How old is Richard Petty today?” you tell them: 87 years young, 200 wins, and zero plans to slow down. And if they don’t believe you, show them a photo of him holding a trophy bigger than their car. The King doesn’t do retirement—he just does pit stops.