School names center for Richard Petty

Asheboro, N.C -- Randolph Community College in North Carolina has founded the "Richard Petty Education Center."

The 20,000-square-foot building, located in Asheboro is named after the legendary NASCAR driver.

The modified U-shape building will house the school's Autobody Repair and Automotive Systems Programs.

It contains nearly 15,000 square feet of new space, which provides 10 work stations and state-of-the-arts paint booth and additional work space.

"Randolph County, N.C. is home so this is really means a lot to the Petty family," Petty said in a statement. "Anytime you are honored by your hometown friends and family it's special. I'm excited that they will have a new education center to turn out quality automotive specialists because it is an important industry for North Carolina."

The facility opens next fall.

Petty retired after the 1992 season having won 200 NASCAR races.
In 1975, he won 13 times, a record which never has been topped or equaled.

Copyright 2007 by United Press International.