This song was written when I was invited to have dinner with Mr. Petty at the Vice-Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff’s house (Admiral Sandy Winnifeld) in Washing, DC. I got to talk with Richard about his racing and his life. I had written the song before the dinner and played it for him that night. He ended up placing the lyrics in his museum in Randleman, NC and inviting me to be his guest at the Pococono Raceway that year. Great time!

Lyrics

Run Petty Run

VERSE 1
Well, it was just a can of axle grease
That made that wagon fly
He beat his brother and his friend
By a country mile
He started racin’ cars in ’58
And won in ’59
Known for huggin’ that ole wall
Right across the finish line

CHORUS
And they’d say run…
Run Petty run
It’s a long way from Level Cross
To Talladega
Run…
Run Petty Run
It’s the King in number 43
Outa my way son…

VERSE 2
Yea, the Poconos bout killed him
Up in turn two
Daytona ’88 lap 106
He flew
But he’d already won 200
By the 4th in ’84
Class 1 NASCAR Hall of Fame
There he’ll be forever more

CHORUS
Say run…..
Run Petty run.
It’s a long way from Level Cross
To Talladega
Yea, now run…
Run Petty Run
It’s the King in number 43
Outa my way son…

VERSE 3
Atlanta Motor Speedway
Back in ’92
He took his final lap
And told ‘em all he was through
That feathered cowboy hat and shades
We all know his name
From ’37 came the 43
And that little boy became a King

CHORUS
And we say run…..
Run Petty run
It’s a long way from Level Cross
To Talladega
Run…
Run Petty Run
It’s the King in number 43
Outa my way son…

It’s the King in number 43
Outa my way son…

Written by Kenny Ray Horton
Fader 4 Music, Inc. (ASCAP)