The Associated Press reports that NASCAR legend Richard Petty has been named North Carolinian of the Year by the N.C. Press Association. Petty joins the likes of Billy Graham, Dean Smith and others in receiving the honor.
"Petty, 70, won a record 200 NASCAR Winston Cup races and seven Daytona 500 races," writes the AP. "He won 27 races in 1967 alone, 18 races in 1970 and 21 in 1971. Since 2000, no driver has won more than eight in a season. Only the late Dale Earnhardt matched Petty's seven NASCAR championships. ...
" 'I really appreciate this honor. I'm in there with a bunch of heavy hitters. Those are people North Carolina can be proud of,' Petty said.
"The award started in 1993 and is given to North Carolinians who bring honor and recognition to the state. Besides Graham and Smith, past winners also include Elizabeth Dole, now a senator, banjo-picker Earl Scruggs and Meadowlark Lemon of Harlem Globetrotters fame.
"Those receiving the award are first nominated by the association's sitting president, who this year is Deuce Niven, editor of the Tabor-Loris Tribune in Tabor City. ..."
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