Petty hasn’t changed his views

CONCORD, N.C. – Richard Petty didn’t think women belonged on the racetrack when Janet Guthrie became the first female driver to compete in the Coca-Cola 600 in 1976.

Thirty years later, his opinion hasn’t changed.

“I just don’t think it’s a sport for women,” Petty said in an interview with The Associated Press. “And so far, it’s proved out. It’s really not. It’s good for them to come in. It gives us a lot of publicity, it gives them publicity.

“But as far as being a real true racer, making a living out of it, it’s kind of tough.”

Petty, a seven-time champion and NASCAR’s all-time winningest driver, was one of the many people who gave Guthrie a cool reception when she came to Lowe’s Motor Speedway for her first NASCAR event.

Guthrie had failed to qualify for the Indianapolis 500 when track officials persuaded her to come to North Carolina and try to make their race, then known as the World 600.

In the three decades that have passed, Petty has grown to appreciate what Guthrie accomplished. She competed for underfunded teams at a time when NASCAR did not have the programs that are currently in place to promote women and minorities.

Guthrie remains the only woman to compete in the Coca-Cola 600, and NASCAR has not had a female racer at the top level since Shawna Robinson in 2002.