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NASCAR Sprint-Cup Series
SPENCER: The King
Richard Petty was back in his court last Sunday at Infineon Raceway...
Jimmy Spencer  |  Posted June 25, 2009   Charlotte, NC
Jimmy Spencer calls it like he sees it on SPEED. (Photo: SPEED)
The King was back in his court last Sunday at Infineon Raceway.

For the first time in 10 years, Richard Petty visited Victory Lane as a car owner in what had to be one of the most popular and sentimental wins in a long time.

Not only is Kasey Kahne one of the most popular drivers, especially among women, but car owners and former drivers don’t come more beloved than Petty. His reemergence in Victory Lane is terrific for the sport as a whole because he has a loyal and traditional fan base that NASCAR desperately needs to maintain.

NASCAR has spent so much time and money in recent years targeting the younger generation, specifically the 18 to 34-year-old demographic, but they should reach out to all ages and demographics, including the traditional fans who grew up watching Petty score his record 200 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series wins. All NASCAR fans know who the man is and if for some reason they don’t, rest assured their parents did. I hate to see the sport’s core, “old school” fan base slipping away, but Petty’s wide smile in Victory Lane more often could go a long way toward luring them back to the sport.

While Petty admittedly isn’t as involved in the day-to-day operations of the team as he was before, he still brings a lot to the table. He’s the most recognizable name in American motorsports and lends exposure and marketing power to Richard Petty Motorsports like nobody else can.

The Petty name, the most-branded in NASCAR, is an awesome marketing tool, much like the Dallas Cowboys of the NFL. While the Cowboys haven’t been overly competitive the past decade, they still have legions of fans and boast high merchandise sales. By the same token, NASCAR fans have supported Petty through the rough years at Petty Enterprises and now have reason again to cheer for him.

As the former Petty Enterprises fell off the competitive radar a few years ago and struggled on a weekly basis, many began to doubt they’d ever see Petty atop the finishing order again. Then came news during the off-season that Petty Enterprises was closing its doors, a painful sight for me and many others, but we soon learned the team was merging with Gillett Evernham Motorsports, would be renamed Richard Petty Motorsports and retain the famed No. 43. But what would happen to Petty? Would he simply fade away? Fortunately, the team took advantage of the goldmine they had under that cowboy hat and put the man to work.

Not only is he a marketer’s dream, Petty is a true gentleman in every sense of the word. You won’t hear anyone say a bad word about The King. He almost single-handedly made NASCAR the fan-friendly sport it is with his patience and personality during lengthy autograph sessions back when no one else was doing them.

I’ve heard stories about him going out with Paul Sawyer at Richmond to sign autographs until 2 o’clock in the morning after the races. Petty popularized the phenomenon of autographs in NASCAR and has done immeasurable things for the fans and the sport. The King has opened doors for so many drivers, me included, and the younger drivers of today, many of whom may not even understand the impact he has had on their careers.

Mark Martin winning again this year was awesome but I can’t remember a time when I’ve been so genuinely happy to see someone in Victory Lane as I was to glimpse that black cowboy hat and sunglasses last weekend. I’m hoping it won’t be the last time this year.

Jimmy Spencer calls it like he sees it as an analyst on NASCAR RaceDay and NASCAR Victory Lane on SPEED. He retired from driving with two NASCAR Sprint Cup, 12 NASCAR Nationwide and one NASCAR Camping World Truck Series victory, putting him in an elite group of drivers who have logged wins in all three of NASCAR’s premier divisions. In 478 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts, Spencer amassed 28 top-five and 80 top-10 finishes. He won back-to-back NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championships in 1986 and 1987 on the heels of 15 victories, becoming the first driver ever to earn consecutive titles in the series. He earned the nickname “Mr. Excitement” for his flamboyant and aggressive driving style early in his racing career.

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The opinions reflected herein are solely those of the above commentator and are not necessarily those of SPEED.com, FOX, NewsCorp, or SPEED
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