CMT CHRONICLES THE INCREDIBLE HISTORY BEHIND THE ROYAL FAMILY OF RACING IN THE MOVIE “PETTY BLUE,” PREMIERING FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8
09/22/10
NASHVILLE – September 22, 2010 – The Petty family is synonymous with NASCAR racing and winning, as never before have four generations of a single family successfully competed in the same sport. In a new film debuting on CMT, PETTY BLUE presents a look at the four generations that make up the Petty family, a close-knit unit that has celebrated one another’s successes and remained resolute through moments of heartache. Produced by CMT Films and NASCAR® Media Group and narrated by Academy Award® winner Kevin Costner, PETTY BLUE debuts Friday, October 8 at 8:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT on CMT.
PETTY BLUE refers to the famously distinctive color of Richard Petty’s #43 car. A story of dedication, perseverance and family tradition; it begins with the real-life story of Lee Petty, who raced under #42 and was the face of NASCAR’s earliest era in 1949. When injury prevented Lee from competing again, his son Richard proudly followed in his footsteps and began racing under #43. Richard went on to become the most-winning driver in NASCAR’s history and is widely considered one of the greatest drivers of all time. Richard is also the only motorsports athlete to earn the Medal of Freedom and was recently inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame. His son, Kyle, continued the family legacy with #44. Carrying quite a history with him as the third generation of Petty racers, he went on to win one of NASCAR’s most auspicious awards: the Myers Brothers Award – twice. Sadly, Kyle’s son Adam (#45) died while racing, more than 50 years after his great-grandfather’s first race.
PETTY BLUE marks the third project that CMT Films and NASCAR Media Group have partnered on, having previously produced the critically-acclaimed and Emmy® Award-nominated DALE, which presented an unparalleled examination of the story of Dale Earnhardt, as well as THE RIDE OF THEIR LIVES, the most comprehensive look at the sport since its inception.
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PRESS CONTACT:
Amanda Murphy 615-335-8408 amanda.murphy@cmt.com
