NASCAR icon Richard Petty surprises customers at Hardee’s in NC, photos show
NASCAR fans stopping for food at a Hardee’s were surprised to see a racing icon serving the drive-thru line, photos show.
Former driver Richard Petty greeted customers and handed out orders at a Charlotte-area restaurant on Monday, July 18, WCNC reported.
The fast-food chain said Petty’s visit was part of a plan “to give consumers ‘The Bird.’” While he wasn’t aiming to make an offensive gesture, he delivered chicken sandwiches from the restaurant in Harrisburg, roughly 20 miles northeast of Charlotte.
The 85-year-old has been partnering with Hardee’s to promote the chicken sandwich, which is “marinated in 13 signature seasonings and dipped in buttermilk before being breaded in Southern-style flour,” the company said in a news release.
During his visit to the North Carolina restaurant, Petty was seen serving food inside and at the drive-thru window. He also spoke to customers and signed autographs at the Cabarrus County dining spot, the Independent Tribune reported.
Petty — who is nicknamed “The King” — is from the Greensboro-area community of Level Cross. He participated in more than 1,000 races and won 200 times before retiring in 1992, according to the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
“For each of Petty’s seven thoroughly documented Daytona 500 triumphs, there’s a substantially larger number of weekday wins on semi-obscure short tracks,” NASCAR said on its website.
Hardee’s didn’t immediately respond to McClatchy News’ request for additional information on July 22.
This story was originally published July 22, 2022 at 1:29 PM with the headline "NASCAR icon Richard Petty surprises customers at Hardee’s in NC, photos show."
