Richard Petty

NASCAR was almost exclusively a southern thing. Something we Yanks watched and enjoyed, but could always tell wasn’t really for us. It was full of Southern accents, good ol’ boys, and associated symbolically with the tobacco industry and Confederate flag. And then Jeff Gordon happened. A little pretty boy from California with no discernible Southern drawl.

Lynda Petty, wife of racing legend and seven-time NASCAR champion Richard Petty, died Tuesday. She was 72. Lynda Petty was diagnosed with central nervous system lymphoma four years ago. She was lovingly referred to as “The First Lady of NASCAR.” “On behalf of the France family and everyone at NASCAR, I want to offer sincere