Last month, Sugarlands Distilling Company announced that it was teaming up with NASCAR legend Richard Petty to launch Petty Punch Moonshine. It is a fruit-forward shine that will pay homage to ‘The King’ and his career. It will officially launch on August 8 at Sugarlands’ downtown Gatlinburg Distillery, and fans will get to meet Petty himself!

Petty Punch Moonshine is the latest collaboration between Sugarlands and Richard Petty after their prosperous limited-edition release of Roaming Man Richard Petty Rye Whiskey last year. “With this release, we wanted to create something that celebrates Richard in a fun, authentic way,” Patrick Sullivan, Sugarlands’ chief revenue officer, said about their newest collaboration. And that’s exactly what they are doing!

In a new Instagram post, the NASCAR legend made sure to market the product well. He shared two images of what looked like stills from an advertisement for the drink: He was seen getting arrested by a cop! Petty captioned it: “Might’ve pushed the limit getting to Sugarlands for the new Petty Punch Moonshine.” But is there a deeper story to this?

Moonshining runs deep in NASCAR’s DNA. In Appalachia, Prohibition-era farmers (1920-1933) used homemade whiskey to supplement their income. They sent runners out in souped-up Fords to evade revenuers. Drivers removed weight from the car, reinforced suspension, and maximized engine power. Soon they turned their illicit runs into informal races, and the sport was born. Bill France Sr. formalized it in 1947 with NASCAR. Legends like Junior Johnson cut their teeth as moonshine runners, and he once famously said, “If it hadn’t been for whiskey, NASCAR wouldn’t have been formed. That’s a fact.”

And Sugarlands paid homage to that legacy. Petty’s staged arrest cleverly revives that connection.

And when fans came across Petty’s post on Instagram, they couldn’t help but share their hilarious thoughts. What did they say?

Fans are surely entertained by Richard Petty’s post

Moonshining’s legacy is inseparable from NASCAR’s origins, especially concerning the laws regulating alcohol distribution. This history adds layers to a fan’s witty take. “Well, I don’t know what this looks like to you, Officer, but this is not distribution. This is consumption.” The joke plays on the legal fine print and references Harry Hoge from the famous ‘Days of Thunder’.

Back in the day, Richard Petty’s fiercest competitor was David Pearson. Their rivalry is regarded as one of NASCAR’s greatest. Reflecting that, a fan quipped, “We found the cop on David Pearson’s payroll.” Petty is a legend owing to his 200 Cup Series wins in a career that spanned from 1958 through 1992. As for Pearson, his 105 wins between 1960 and 1986 set him apart. What made their rivalry big was the fact that both drivers finished first and second a whopping 63 times in their careers: Pearson won 33 of those races and Petty won 30.

“Sure, you’re Richard Petty, and I’m Mario Andretti! Hands up!” another fan mentioned, bringing another racing name into the picture. In 2010 and 2011, Petty and Andretti Autosport joined forces: Petty drove a car for them in the Indianapolis 500. Unfortunately, Mario Andretti died in 2020.

“I know that cop was thinking ‘I just searched the King’ holy hell,” mentioned another Instagram user. Further, Richard Petty’s racing career included notable stints driving Mopar vehicles like Dodge and Plymouth—brands that carry deep roots in NASCAR history. One fan noticed the Jeep in Petty’s recent post and teased, “Looks like somebody is planning on going back to Dodge when they get to Cup since Richard is driving a Jeep.”

Richard Petty’s witty ‘arrest’ stunt not only entertained fans but also rekindled NASCAR’s deep ties to moonshining culture. Through humor and heritage, Petty’s latest venture with Sugarlands shines a light on the sport’s colorful past while celebrating its evolving legacy. Fans are clearly loving the blend of speed, spirit, and playful nostalgia. What do you think? Let us know in the comments below.