Richard Petty Accepts Tony Stewart’s Challenge To Race Danica Patrick

Rivalries, fights, and smack talk in NASCAR are rich and deep rooted in tradition.  Go back to the 1979 Daytona 500 for the most notorious fight in NASCAR when Bobby Allison and his brother Donnie took on Cale Yarborough at the end of the race.  That ironically was also the very first race televised flag to flag on national TV.  A major snowstorm had bogged down most of the Northeast and MIdwest, which increased the viewership of that sporting event.  Many other incidents have happened throughout the history of NASCAR racing where drivers have stepped out of their cars and literally took their gloves off to settle scores off the track.

This past week, legendary driver and team owner Richard Petty made the statement that the only way Danica Patrick could win a race is if every other driver was off the track.  That didn't set well with the owner of Danica's car, Tony Stewart.  Stewart set a message to the 75 year-old NASCAR legend:

 "I think that (a race) would settle it once and for all — maybe get him to shut up a little bit, too," Stewart said. "... I will supply the cars. If he wants to race her, I'll make sure they have exactly the same setup in the car and give him the chance. He can drive one of my 14 cars, I don't care."

Stewart went on to say that when Danica wins a race that she should take the checkered flag and shove it  (where the sun doesn't shine!)

Petty responded to the challenge on Fox and Friends on Friday saying he was all in.  "I'm 76 years old, OK?" Petty said on Fox News Channel. "It's been 25 years since I've been in a race car. But I'll take that challenge, said Petty.

Whether or not this race will ever happen will add to the drama.  Will it be on a major track with an audience or will it be at a secret location with only a few witnesses?  I'd like to see it done with a full grandstand with all of the money raised going to a worthy charity.  If I were to place a bet on whether this race takes place, I would say it will never happen, but that somehow there will be an urban legend that will be created about how these folks all met up an an undisclosed location and settled the score.  Only time will tell!