The Pettys

If there was one name that is synonymous with stock-car racing and NASCAR in America, it would be the name of Petty.

When Lee Petty started his adventures around the short tracks of the South, he quickly made a name for himself as an avid competitor. Winning 54 races out of his Randleman, N.C., shop, he garnered NASCAR championships in 1954, 1958 and 1959. The patriarch of Petty Enterprises won the inaugural Daytona 500 in 1959, having to wait three days to be declared the victor because of a photo finish.

Retiring in 1964 after 427 NASCAR races, he left behind his legacy of 54 wins, 231 top-fives, 332 top-10s and 18 poles. He was named one of NASCAR's 50 greatest drivers before passing away at the age of 86 in April of 2000.

Often referred to as one of the founding fathers of NASCAR, he was the leader of the only four-generation family in sports. The year he retired was the year his son, Richard, won the Daytona 500 and his first of seven championships.

While Lee was considered one of the first stars of the sport, Richard went on to become "The King." His record of 200 victories and mark of seven championships stand as a testament to one of the sports most competitive and successful drivers.

Battles with Bobby Allison and David Pearson on the short tracks and high-banks of superspeedways have become legendary. Racing 50 to 60 times a year, Petty endured quite the schedule in the early days. In one season, he set the record for most wins in one year with 27 in 1967. The modern-era record books (started in 1972) shows Petty tied with Jeff Gordon for 13 wins in one season.

Petty's number of championships is tied only by the late Dale Earnhardt. Petty still holds the record of 1,184 lifetime starts, 126 career poles, most laps completed, laps led, races led and miles led.

Toss in a record seven Daytona 500 wins and the fact he's still the winningest driver at tracks like Richmond, Dover, Martinsville, Rockingham and North Wilkesboro says a lot about the type of racer he was. His brother, Maurice Petty, made 26 Cup Series starts and served as engine builder for Richard's team for several years.

After his retirement in 1992, Petty concentrated on being a winning car owner. Petty Enterprises made a return to Dodge-manufactured cars for the 2001 season.

Kyle Petty has helped carry on the family's name with more than 800 career starts and eight victories. His most successful season came in 1992 driving for Felix Sabates, when he collected two victories and finished fifth in the standings. He returned to his family's organization in 1997 and continues to drive and help run the business.

Away from the track, Kyle Petty is known for his charitable work with the Victory Junction Gang Camp -- a camp for children with chronic medial conditions or serious illnesses. He and wife Pattie founded the camp in 2004 in memory of their son Adam, who died in a racing accident in New Hampshire. Adam was poised to carry on the Petty racing name, having made 43 Busch Series starts and one Cup Series start.