Petty Blue

Auto racing fans will enjoy this documentary about the Petty family—the NASCAR equivalent of royalty—beginning with Lee Petty taking to the track in 1949. Lee was the father of Richard Petty (known as “the King”), who became the stock-car superstar, winning the most races—200—in the history of the sport. Richard's fame spread beyond the paved oval—he even received the Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, from President George Bush in 1992—and his son Kyle continued the family tradition. Richard's grandson Adam was set to inherit the dynastic mantle but was killed in a 2000 crash, two months shy of his 20th birthday. Narrated by Kevin Costner, Petty Blue combines a wealth of footage from classic competitions together with interviews of family members and admirers. Although it's a well-made production, the film never digs deep into the sport itself, so this is unlikely to appeal to viewers unfamiliar with NASCAR, but fans will be delighted. DVD extras include a “Memory Lane” featurette, bonus interviews (including a chat with evangelist Franklin Graham), race clips, deleted scenes, and a music video. Recommended. Aud: P. (P. Hall)