Hall of Fame driver Richard Petty, “The King”, has a fan base that spans across the globe.  In addition to being a racing legend and the winningest driver in NASCAR history, nearly everyone who is familiar with NASCAR can recognize the signature cowboy hat and glasses that “The King” wears everywhere he goes (and we mean everywhere!).  When we’re out and about, representing RPDE at the race track and other special events, the number one question we get from fans is, “What’s Richard like?”  The team here at Richard Petty Driving Experience is lucky to have the opportunity to talk to “The King” quite frequently, especially during his visits to our offices in Concord, NC.  However, it’s YOU, the fans, who have the best questions.

 So, before launching “In The Driver’s Seat” we asked “The King” if he’d be willing to field questions from our readers.  And, of course, he said yes!  So, if you could ask “The King” one question – what would it be?  With 200 wins, 7 championships, over 5 decades in the sport and thousands of great stories – there’s plenty to choose from!  We’ll select a few of your best questions and get “The King,” himself, to answer them.  Post your questions in the comments section and we’ll be back next month with some answers.

 Now – ask away!

Each month, we will feature a new member of “The King’s” Court – a special designation for our most loyal fans – as a ‘thank you’ for their continued support.  This month, read all about Paul Seemann – our first member of “The King’s” Court (it was a no-brainer – and you’ll see why!) and learn how to submit your own nominations for “The King’s” Court.

For Paul Seemann, a retired commercial construction superintendant, Richard Petty Driving Experience isn’t just the thrill of a lifetime; it’s a way of life.  Seemann took the wheel of one of our 600hp NASCAR race cars for the first time in 2000 and never looked back.  In the ten years since, he’s driven EVERY track in the RPDE system, for a total of 69 Driving Experiences! 

“Being a huge NASCAR fan, I thought, why not drive a race car to see how it feels,” said Seemann, telling us why he decided to try RPDE the first time.  “My boss at the time asked me to go along to RPDE at Walt Disney World® Speedway -needless to say, I got hooked!”   It quickly became obvious to Seemann that he was addicted to the rush of driving our cars, so he picked up a part-time job at a local grocery store to save up for the next experience.  When he’s not at the store, he’s traveling the country testing his skills at some of the most legendary race tracks on the NASCAR circuit.  During a recent trip to Michigan International Speedway, Seemann’s wife and 10 of his relatives joined him at the track to try out our Ride-Along program while he drove.  After climbing out of the car, Seemann was presented with a limited edition RPDE leather jacket to congratulate him on driving every track.  “That was so cool in front of my family!”

 His favorite track is none other than the historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway.  “You really have to concentrate to avoid scrubbing off any speed,” advises Seemann.  “And the sight at the front of the straightaway – with all the stands flying by – is AWESOME.”  Why does he keep coming back?  It’s easy, the TOTAL RUSH.  “The rush is there each time I drive.  When I get out of the car, my hands are shaking so bad, I can barely drink a cup of water,” he says.  “It can’t be beat.  After you feel it once – you’ll want to do it again and again and again!”

Does Paul’s story remind you of someone?  Do you or someone you know want to be the next member of “The King’s” Court?  Email us at marketing@drivepetty.com and let us know your story and you could be featured as the newest member of “The King’s” Court!

While most of you know us for our high speed Drive and Ride-Along programs, there’s another side of Richard Petty Driving Experience that you likely aren’t familiar with.  We’re currently in our 5th year as the folks “behind-the-scenes” of the SRT Track Experience – Chrysler’s at-track program designed for fans of their high performance Street & Racing Technology (SRT) models. 

SRT is known for snarling, Hemi-powered machines like the Dodge Charger SRT8, Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 & the brand new Challenger SRT8 392 (with 470 horsepower!).  And of course the original SRT — the Dodge Viper.

During SRT events, which are held at race tracks across the country, participants get to spend the day test driving these impressive vehicles, as our professional driving instructors provide tips on how to get the most out of each model (hint: there’s more to it than just shoving the pedal to the metal…although there’s plenty of that, too).  By the end of the day, you’ll be thinking “I had no idea a street car could do that!”

Want to test your skills behind the wheel at an SRT program? 

Visit www.DriveSRT.com to find out when we’ll be at a track near you!

Hey everyone!  Welcome to “In the Driver’s Seat”, the official blog of Richard Petty Driving Experience.  In November of 2010, we launched the all-new drivepetty.com – a totally revamped website created to give you – our customers – a significantly enhanced experience on the web.  Hopefully you’ll find the new website to be better looking, easier to navigate and, most importantly – FAST…just like our race cars.

As part of the re-launch of drivepetty.com, we want to feature dynamic content that gives you a reason to keep coming back – whether you are looking to book your next Driving Experience or just want to check out the latest news, photos & videos we have from the track.  You can find all of that in our Media Center and “In the Driver’s Seat”.  We’re here to give you the inside scoop on what goes on at RPDE and provide an exclusive look at our programs and events.  And, you will even hear from The King himself once in a while!

We’d love to hear from you – so send your questions and comments and stay tuned to find out what’s giong on here at RPDE!