The King Takes a Cruise on Woodward

The Sheriff Was Right Behind—in Kurt Busch’s Dodge Challenger SRT8®

To the surprise of many lucky fans, Richard Petty cruised Michigan’s Woodward Avenue in his electric blue 1971 Plymouth HEMI® Road Runner NASCAR stock car two nights before the official start of the 2008 Woodward Dream Cruise. Close behind in a 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8® was Kurt Busch—with Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard riding shotgun. They caught up to Petty as he pulled into the Hunter House, a local hamburger joint in Birmingham, smack in the middle of the cruise route.

The crowd cheered as The King exited the car through the driver’s window, NASCAR style. He easily pulled off the maneuver, not even hinting at his 71 years. Busch joined him in meeting and greeting the fans and signing autographs. The event was hosted by Chrysler’s fleet sales unit.

Petty’s Plymouth Road Runner is the one he drove to win the 1971 Daytona 500 and the NASCAR championship that year, according to owner Todd Werner of St. Petersburg, Fla.

For the record, Sheriff Bouchard didn’t ticket Petty. He lucked out—this time.