Richard Petty is going back home to Level Cross, N.C. the Richard Petty Museum, that is.
Ribbon cutting ceremonies and an open house will take place Wednesday evening at the Petty compound in Level Cross.
The relocated museum holds much of what NASCARs winningest driver has ever won or achieved in his legendary career. It will now be housed in the site of the original Petty Enterprises and Petty Engineering facilities, the same facility where The King developed many of the cars that led him to a record seven Grand National and Winston Cup championships and 200 career wins.
The Petty museum has been housed in nearby Randleman, N.C. since 2003. But a few years ago, it was decided to bring it back within the Petty family compound in Level Cross, where it began in 1988 by Richards wife Lynda.
Its time to move the museum back, Petty told Autoweek last November . Were really grateful for everyone in Randleman for allowing us to move the museum there when our race shop had to grow. We now have the opportunity to move it back to where it all started, and I think everyone agrees thats where it belongs.
We want people to come and see the history on the same ground where it all happened. Were going to take the time to make it even better, too. Its exciting for our family, and we hope everyone will enjoy it with us.
The teams performance headquarters, Richard Petty Motorsports, will remain in Concord, N.C.
Likewise, Victory Junction Gang Camp, started by Pettys son Kyle and wife Pattie to honor late son Adam, who was killed in a racing accident in 2000, will remain based in Randleman.
Even before it re-opens its doors, the museum already has expansion plans in place to also honor team patriarch Lee Petty, including allowing fans to visit the Lee Petty House, where both Richard and brother Maurice were born. All three Pettys and cousin Dale Inman, Richards long-time crew chief, are now enshrined in the NASCAR Hall of Fame, with Maurice being inducted in January.
Pettys daughter, Rebecca Moffitt, who also runs the Petty Family Foundation, has overseen the transition of the museum from Randleman to back home on the Petty range.
This is a project our family has been working on for over the last year, she told Autoweek. This will give fans the most genuine look at the Petty racing history. Were going to work hard to ensure that when we open the original location, itll be a destination for all race fans.