Richard Petty: Images of the King [Hardcover]

Ben Blake (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 6, 2005

Ben Blake, with photography by Dick Conway. Although the late Dale Earnhardt matched Richard Petty's record of seven NASCAR points titles, no one-not Earnhardt nor, most likely, any racer in the future-will approach several of King Richard's career records: 200 NASCAR victories, seven Daytona 500 wins, victories in 10 straight races (1967), 1,184 races started and 712 Top 10 finishes. In a sport where competitors are idolized, no one before or since has enjoyed as much fame and popularity as Richard Petty. This photo-history focuses on Petty's remarkable career. The son of a North Carolina stock car racing pioneer, Richard Petty knew little beyond cars and racing. Despite a slow start to his racing career, he achieved unprecedented levels of success and took the sport with him into the national spotlight

Editorial Reviews

Review

SpeedTV.com, Dec. 21, 2005

“With a title like Richard Petty: Images of the King, one would expect an album of excellent photographs of the greatest stock driver in history. Dick Conway delivers! Most of the 250 images in the book are his … and they are excellent.

 

“But it is Ben Blake’s text that puts this book on another level. He not only documents WHEN Petty was crowned ‘The King,’ … but WHY he was ‘The King.’”

Richmond Times-Dispatch, Sept. 11, 2005

“For the new fan who wants an accessible look at NASCAR’s most enduring icon, this book offers an entertaining, dazzling display. For the veteran NASCAR follower, this book is like an archeological find, treasured artifacts of a man and an era that will never be matched.”

Classic American (UK), Winter 2006

“They say you can’t judge a book by its cover. Cobblers. One glance at the cover of this mighty volume will give you a very, very good idea about what’s inside."

About the Author

Writer Ben Blake (the NASCAR columnist for RACER magazine) is a veteran of the NASCAR beat and is a respected commentator on stock car racing's premier circuit. He has written four prior books, including an authorized biography of Dale Earnhardt. He resides in Richmond, Virginia. Dick Conway followed Richard Petty from track to track from 1970 until the end of Petty's career in 1992. He captured "The King" in every situation and these compelling photographs fill this book. Dick Conway also lives in Richmond, Virginia

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Motorbooks; First edition (May 6, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0760320411
• ISBN-13: 978-0760320419
• Product Dimensions: 12.1 x 11 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,407,514 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For all Richard Petty Fan!, April 8, 2008

By 

Joni D. Gjermundson "Good Witch of the North" (Dickinson, ND United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Richard Petty: Images of the King (Hardcover)

I bought this book for my husband and I don't think there is a night that goes by that he isn't flipping through it. If you are a true Petty fan, this is the book for you! The commentary is wonderful and the pictures are great.

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Book on "The King", October 20, 2011

By 

Tony D. Wilhite (Salisbury, NC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Richard Petty: Images of the King (Hardcover)

I have been a fan of Richard Petty since forever. I have followed his career with with every turn of the sports section of newspapers in the 60's and 70's until the electronic age of information we have today. This book is not a wealth of new information but has a super collection of photos of Petty throughout his racing carrer. The size of the book makes the photos used bigger and better than most smaller books. This is a nice format for the pictures. Any Petty fan should have this in their collection.