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Richard Petty To Receive Argetsinger Award
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Richard Petty, the most decorated driver in the history of NASCAR, will start the August race weekend in Watkins Glen International by receiving the Cameron R. Argetsinger Award for Outstanding Contributions to Motorsports, sponsored by the International Motor Racing Research Center.
Petty, who won a record 200 races and seven NASCAR Cup championships during his 30-year driving career, will be recognized on August 6 at the IMRRC Award Dinner presented by NASCAR, International Speedway Corporation and Watkins Glen International.
The dinner will be at the Corning (NY) Museum of Glass on the Thursday prior to the NASCAR Sprint Cup event at Watkins Glen International, the famed upstate New York road race course.
The award memorializes Cameron R. Argetsinger, founder and organizer of the first races at Watkins Glen. Team owner and former driver Chip Ganassi was the first recipient of the Argetsinger Award in 2014.
“It always makes you feel good to be honored or recognized for your contributions, especially for something you have dedicated so much of your life towards,” Petty said. “You can tell that Cameron also had a passion for road racing and dedicated his time and efforts to making it better for everyone.”
The inaugural race through the streets of Watkins Glen was in 1948. In 1961, Argetsinger organized the first U.S. Grand Prix, and Formula One racing began its successful 20-year run at The Glen. NASCAR competed at The Glen in 1957, 1964 and 1965 and annually since 1986.
“You have to figure that racing wasn’t as popular back when I started,” said Petty, who piloted his first race car in July 1958 at the age of 21. “It didn’t matter if it was on an oval, road course or a street course, it was still coming along in America. Today, it’s all popular, and it took a lot of folks working together to make that happen. I appreciate this award and what it means to our sport.”
Petty competed in eight NASCAR races at Watkins Glen, including July 19, 1964, when both he and his father, the legendary Lee Petty, were on the track. It was Lee Petty’s final career race.
“The Cameron Argetsinger Award recognizes Richard Petty not only for his accomplishments as a driver, but also as a team owner and committed philanthropist,” IMRRC President J.C. Argetsinger said. “More than 10 years after his retirement, ‘The King’ is a force that still reigns. We are very pleased that he is accepting this honor from the Racing Research Center.”
The IMRRC Award Dinner is open to the public, but tickets are limited. The ticket price is $250 per person.
Petty, who won a record 200 races and seven NASCAR Cup championships during his 30-year driving career, will be recognized on August 6 at the IMRRC Award Dinner presented by NASCAR, International Speedway Corporation and Watkins Glen International.
The dinner will be at the Corning (NY) Museum of Glass on the Thursday prior to the NASCAR Sprint Cup event at Watkins Glen International, the famed upstate New York road race course.
The award memorializes Cameron R. Argetsinger, founder and organizer of the first races at Watkins Glen. Team owner and former driver Chip Ganassi was the first recipient of the Argetsinger Award in 2014.
“It always makes you feel good to be honored or recognized for your contributions, especially for something you have dedicated so much of your life towards,” Petty said. “You can tell that Cameron also had a passion for road racing and dedicated his time and efforts to making it better for everyone.”
The inaugural race through the streets of Watkins Glen was in 1948. In 1961, Argetsinger organized the first U.S. Grand Prix, and Formula One racing began its successful 20-year run at The Glen. NASCAR competed at The Glen in 1957, 1964 and 1965 and annually since 1986.
“You have to figure that racing wasn’t as popular back when I started,” said Petty, who piloted his first race car in July 1958 at the age of 21. “It didn’t matter if it was on an oval, road course or a street course, it was still coming along in America. Today, it’s all popular, and it took a lot of folks working together to make that happen. I appreciate this award and what it means to our sport.”
Petty competed in eight NASCAR races at Watkins Glen, including July 19, 1964, when both he and his father, the legendary Lee Petty, were on the track. It was Lee Petty’s final career race.
“The Cameron Argetsinger Award recognizes Richard Petty not only for his accomplishments as a driver, but also as a team owner and committed philanthropist,” IMRRC President J.C. Argetsinger said. “More than 10 years after his retirement, ‘The King’ is a force that still reigns. We are very pleased that he is accepting this honor from the Racing Research Center.”
The IMRRC Award Dinner is open to the public, but tickets are limited. The ticket price is $250 per person.
