Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

Grandson of Richard Petty wins late model championship

thad-moffitt

The 16-year-old grandson of NASCAR legend Richard Petty won his first stock car championship last weekend.

Thad Moffitt, oldest son of Brian and Rebecca Moffitt, claimed the championship in the Southeast Limited Late Model Daytona 1 Challenger Series last Friday.

Moffitt finished fifth in a race at Myrtle Beach Speedway in South Carolina to clinch the title. The championship comes in Moffitt’s first season on the tour after previously competing in go-karts and quarter midgets. Moffitt’s season was the result of a partnership between Richard Petty Motorsports and the Empire Racing Group, a driver-development team.

“I have to thank Empire Racing Group and everyone involved to make this happen,” said Moffitt in a press release. “Growing up around racing, it really gets in your blood. It’s all I think about and all I want to do. It’s awesome to win a championship in my first year in a stock car. I just want to get better and better.”

Moffitt drove the No. 46 this season which continues the family tradition that began with his great-grandfather Lee Petty driving the No. 42. Moffitt won his first race back in August.

“It feels good to carry on the family tradition,” Moffitt said. “You try not to think about it. I’m just proud to race the family color and put the 46 on the side of the car. I have plans to take the next step, but I’ll work with my family and with Empire Racing Group on what that may be.”

Said Petty: “He did pretty good for his first year. He has a real passion for this, so who knows how far it can take him. He’s pretty determined.”

Follow @DanielMcFadin