Richard Petty talks about grandson’s death during appearance for STP

Anne M. Peterson

Thursday, June 22, 2000 | 8:49 a.m.

SAN FRANCISCO - Right after Adam Petty's fatal accident, stock car legend Richard Petty questioned whether he should have encouraged his grandson's racing in the family's tradition.

But that night when he got home, he saw on the news that some young boys had drowned that day. He realized that everyone's time is limited.

"It could happen when you're walking down the street," Petty said. Adam's death, he added pragmatically, "just happened to come up in a race car."

Petty did not dwell on his family's recent tragedy during an appearance in San Francisco on Wednesday. NASCAR's winningest driver was touting his long-time alliance with STP along with John Andretti, a driver for Petty Enterprises.

Petty's father, Lee - the patriarch of the four-generation racing family - died in April of complications from a stomach aneurysm. He was 86.

Then, on May 12, 19-year-old Adam Petty, an up-and-coming star on the racing scene, was killed in a wreck during a Busch series practice at New Hampshire International Speedway.

Petty and his son, Kyle, a stock car driver and Adam's father, have mourned as privately as possible for a family so visible on the NASCAR stage.

Popularly known as "The King," Petty had 200 career victories over the course of a storied career from 1958 to 1992. In one season, he had a still-record 27 victories, including 10 consecutive wins.

Kyle, known for his ponytail and penchant for motorcycles, has been a Winston Cup driver for 20 years. Although he's never matched his father in terms of victories, he's proven extremely popular among fans.

Kyle spoke of his son last month in Dover, Del.

"We were really close," he said, unable to hide the tears behind dark sunglasses. "We used to joke about being a father and son, and best friends. And I think we were."

On Wednesday, Richard Petty reflected just briefly on his family's losses, keeping his emotions in check behind his ever-present sunglasses.

"When things are supposed to happen," he said, "they happen."

Ever the professional, Petty smiled broadly for fans who gathered to meet their hero outside the San Francisco Giants' new Pacific Bell Park. Some brought faded photographs for him to autograph. One presented him with hand-drawn sketches of wildlife.

"Thanks for all the years," another fan said.

Andretti said Adam's death was a blow to all of NASCAR, because in a way, all the teams are part of a family.

"I think Richard said it best," Andretti said. "It doesn't matter what you're doing, when your time comes up, your time comes up. You might as well be doing what you love."