This Wednesday, Richard Petty will be a guest of President and Mrs. Obama at a dinner at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. The dinner is in commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the establishment of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Petty was awarded the Medal of Freedom in 1992 by President George Bush. He was the first motorsports athlete to be given the award. Petty will attend the black-tie dinner with his daughter, Lisa, and be joined by other recipients of the highest civilian Award in the United States. Petty keeps his Medal on display at the Richard Petty Museum which will open back in its original location, Level Cross, N.C. in early 2014 on the site of the former Petty Enterprises. Petty views receiving the Medal of one his proudest accomplishments, It s an Award that I really cherish, maybe the most of all, says Petty. I m honored to be a recipient and look forward to attending this dinner with the President and other recipients this Wednesday. This month, the #43 STP Pontiac that Petty raced to his 200th NASCAR Sprint Cup Victory in front of President Reagan at the Daytona International Speedway, was featured by Smithsonian Magazine as one of the 101 Objects That Made America.(RPM/Breaking Limits)
