Richard Petty Draws Backlash After Calling Kid Rock an ‘American Icon’
NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty sparked a wave of online backlash ahead of the Daytona 500 after posting a photo with Kid Rock and labelling the pair “American Icons.” Petty shared the message on social media as the sport gathered in Daytona, but the post quickly drew critical replies alongside supportive comments from some racing fans.
In his pre-race post, Petty wrote “American Icons” and welcomed Kid Rock to Daytona, and PennLive reported that the replies included users referencing resurfaced lyrics and past comments attributed to the singer, with some calling Petty’s praise “gross and embarrassing.”
The report notes that Kid Rock recently headlined Turning Point USA’s Super Bowl LX All-American Halftime Show, while older controversies reignited online. PennLive highlighted a resurfaced 2001 “Saturday Night Live” appearance in which the musician was said to have made remarks about the Olsen Twins, as well as lyrics from earlier songs that drew renewed scrutiny in recent days.
PennLive also described the mixed reaction in Petty’s comment section, with some users defending the artist and others attacking Petty for publicly endorsing him. Several replies singled out lyrics about underage girls, while others mocked Kid Rock and questioned why Petty would refer to him as an “American icon.”
The episode underscores how celebrity endorsements in sports can ignite rapid backlash when tied to long-running cultural controversies, particularly in the hyper-visible lead-up to major events like the Daytona 500.
American Icons. Welcome to Daytona 🇺🇸@KidRock pic.twitter.com/r4Br4Vgmij
— Richard Petty (@therichardpetty) February 15, 2026
