Richard Petty honored in North Carolina with customized Dodge Challenger

NASCAR legend and team owner Richard Petty took a break from his busy schedule on May 28 to host his inaugural Spring Fling Car Show at Petty's Garage in Level Cross, N.C., and to accept delivery of the Legacy Dodge Challenger.

The car was created to pay tribute to the famous driver and promote vehicle-lift safety. The event was sponsored by the Automotive Lift Institute.

Artist Mickey Harris spent more than 156 hours illustrating Petty's racing career on the car. Harris hand-painted both sides of the Challenger. The artist said he was so inspired by the project that he created a portrait to honor the Legacy car and Petty. Pfaff Designs also worked on the Dodge.

When the cover was pulled off the Legacy Challenger, the crowd cheered as soon as it saw the Petty Blue paint. Petty put the finishing touches on the car by signing the odometer. He was wearing his signature crocodile-skin boots, which matched the Katzkin leather interior of the car.

Mike Robertson, North Carolina motor-vehicles commissioner, was on hand to present a special plate made for the trailer vehicle used to haul the Legacy Challenger. The plate reads "200 WINS."

After the car leaves North Carolina, it will be used to promote vehicle-lift safety as it travels around the country. The vehicle will then go to the Richard Petty Museum in Randleman, N.C., to sit on display for fans.

By Jake Lingeman