Known to many simply as "The King," NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty is the most decorated driver in the history of NASCAR racing, winning a record number 200 career races and seven NASCAR Cup championships during his illustrious career. One would think that after 1,184 races that spanned three decades, "The King" would bow out and retire quietly. Petty, however, had other things on his mind. Today Petty is as busy as ever, and spends much of his time overseeing the operations of Richard Petty Motorsports.

In 1996, Petty proved he could be a champion both as a driver and car owner when he won his first race as an owner with driver, Bobby Hamilton, at Phoenix (Ariz.) International Raceway. Petty's teams continued their winning ways again in 1997 and 1999.

Racing is about winning, and "The King" has proven he knows how to do just that. But it is giving back to the community and his fans that make Petty "The King" of auto racing. It's hard to miss Petty in his signature cowboy hat and sunglasses signing autographs for fans or just lending a helping hand. In fact, Petty was instrumental in the development of the Victory Junction Gang Camp after donating 84 acres of his own land, on which the camp sits today. Founded in 2004, Petty is still extremely active at the camp, which gives chronically ill children the chance to experience life-changing camping experiences in a safe and medically-sound environment.

There is no other person in NASCAR's history to have made more of an impact on the sport, on and off the track, than Level Cross, NC native Richard Petty. He has been elected to the National Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame, International Motorsports Hall of Fame, North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame, and also the North Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame. He also serves as Chairman of the North Carolina Motorsports Association.

2009 marked a season of accomplishments for the NASCAR icon. His Richard Petty Motorsports team recorded two wins, qualified for the Chase for the Championship, and successfully placed all four of his cars inside NASCAR's Top 35. Off of the track, he was an inaugural inductee in the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

After making the switch to Ford in 2010, Richard Petty Motorsports again fielded four teams. Capturing five pole positions and 11 Top-Five finishes as an organization that year, the RPM teams made their presences known throughout the season.

With a new ownership group in place for 2011 -one that enabled Petty to regain majority ownership of the team- Petty's multi-car team was a force to be reckoned with and drivers AJ Allmendinger and Marcos Ambrose both had breakthrough seasons. The duo both finished inside the Top-20 in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series point standings and added one win, six Top-Five finishes and 22 Top-10 finishes to the organization's list of accomplishments for the year.

With a successful 2011 season in the books, Richard Petty Motorsports is looking to 2012 to raise the bar and accomplish even greater things. Marcos Ambrose returns to pilot the No. 9 Stanley Ford in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and newcomer Aric Almirola takes the wheel of the No. 43 Ford. In addition, the Richard Petty Motorsports has expanded in 2012 and fields a NASCAR Nationwide Series team for Michael Annett and partner Pilot Flying J.