Darlington Raceway announced today that NASCAR legend and esteemed commentator Kyle Petty will serve as the Grand Marshal for the NASCAR Cup Series Hauler Showcase & Parade on Friday, Aug. 30, as part of the Labor Day Race Weekend activities.
“Kyle Petty is one of the most renowned voices and personalities we have in our sport,” said Darlington Raceway President Josh Harris. “We‘re honored to have someone with as tenured of a resume in the world of NASCAR be a part of one of our most adored traditions at Darlington Raceway.”
Hailing from Level Cross, N.C., Kyle Petty is as much a product of racing as he is of his famous forebearers: his grandfather, Lee Petty, and his father, Richard Petty, also known as “The King.” Over the course of a 30-year racing career, Kyle amassed eight wins and 173 Top-10 finishes. At Darlington Raceway, Kyle competed in 51 races with a best finish of sixth in 1991. Today, Kyle is a vibrant TV personality (NBC Sports/USA pre- and post-race NASCAR coverage & NASCAR America), a talented musician, a dedicated philanthropist, a published author and a motivational speaker.
Inspired by the vision of his late son, Adam, Kyle and the Petty family partnered with the NASCAR community and corporate sponsors to create Victory Junction, a year-round camping facility for children with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses. For more than 29 years, Kyle has hosted thousands of NASCAR fans, drivers and motorcycle enthusiasts on his annual Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America — raising more than $22 million for Victory Junction and children with chronic or life-threatening illnesses.
Earlier this year at Darlington‘s Spring race, Kyle Petty and his father, Richard, were present for the unveiling of “The King‘s Hat,” a six-foot tall, 1,000-pound, fiberglass and concrete statue that become a permanent fixture at NASCAR‘s Original Superspeedway. The installation is one of 28 originals that feature the likeness of Richard Petty‘s famous cowboy hat. A tribute to the Petty Family‘s 75th year in NASCAR, the Petty Family and LEGACY MOTOR CLUB has given a tip of the hat to most all NASCAR tracks. Darlington has a special design on its hat, showcasing Lee, Richard, Maurice, Kyle and his son Adam, along with Richard‘s Plymouth that swept both 1967 races at the 1.366-mile venue.
Fans are encouraged to use #PETTY75 when they find this one-of-a-kind piece of history and post photos socially, as “The King‘s Hat” is a permanent fixture at Darlington Raceway.
Beginning at 6 p.m., the haulers will depart Florence-Darlington Technical College and parade their way through downtown Darlington and onto the historic Darlington Raceway where they will load into the NASCAR Cup Series Garage.
Darlington‘s Labor Day Race Weekend begins at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 31, with the NASCAR Xfinity Series‘ Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Help A Hero 200. Then at 6 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 1, the NASCAR Cup Series stars will battle to secure their spot in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs with the Cook Out Southern 500, one of NASCAR‘s crown jewel events and the final race of the regular season.
NASCAR fans are encouraged to purchase their tickets while supplies last at 866-459-7223 or online at darlingtonraceway.com.
— Darlington Raceway —
