The King Returns to the Track

RICHMOND, Va. -- Since he's been involved in NASCAR racing, Richard Petty has never been away from the track more than a week or so at a time.

Until now.

Following the death of his wife of 55 years, Lynda, Petty took a few weeks to adjust. His return at Richmond is a good thing, he says. 

“I just felt like I needed to sort of had a little time on our own so I have been gone for two or three weeks but I am back in the saddle again now. I am just learning to live all over again.”

Being back in the world he ruled for so long is a welcome distraction. 

“Yeah, doing the things we were supposed to do the last few weeks have been put off so starting Monday we were in Georgia and Tuesday we were in Tennessee and Wednesday in Wyoming and now here on Thursday. The busier they keep me the better off I will be.”

Losing your life's partner is traumatic at the least and devastating at the worst. Fortunately, he had his family to help with the adjustment. 

“I am surviving," he said. "It is going to be different I guess. After 55 years I have to start all over again. I was fortunate that all the kids came home for Easter. We had all the kids and grandkids home and that really made things work good.”

Coming back to the place where he is royalty and rock star all in one will be interesting, and good therapy, he said. 

“It is great that so many people knew Lynda so well. Of course she had been around a long time too. She never met a stranger. Every once in awhile I would come in the house and see people I didn’t even know. She would invite them in the house to spend the night or whatever. Again, it is just going to be different.”

While he wasn't at the track, he wasn't out of touch. His team kept him up to date on what was going on. "I watched some of it on TV," Petty said. "It was still not the same as being there though.”

Being there, week in and week out, has been Petty's life since he was old enough to stand. Missing time is not something he takes lightly. Still, it will be different from here on out.

“I have never been gone that long," he said. "Never. I have never missed two or three races in a row. Maybe one from time to time but never more than that. It is a different situation. I just have to learn to live with it.”