Petty in for Phoenix

[Schwartz Fan]

Kyle Petty says he's in for Phoenix; after that not sure
By Bob Pockrass - Associate Editor
Saturday, October 11, 2008


CONCORD, N.C. – Kyle Petty said that he will drive at Phoenix International Raceway later this year, but then he is still unsure of how many NASCAR Sprint Cup races he will enter in 2009.

Petty did say whatever races he does drive, he will compete under the Petty Enterprises banner. Bobby Labonte is signed to return to Petty Enterprises and Chad McCumbee is being looked at for the car where Kyle Petty is currently the primary driver.

“I don’t have anything going right now for next year,” Petty said Saturday at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. “We’d like to run five races, 10 races, 15 races, whatever we can run.

“It really depends on what you get financially. We feel like we’ve got some good leads for the 43 and pretty confident that Marathon and everybody will be here for Chad [McCumbee]. I’m not going to go somewhere else. I’ve always said if I run Cup stuff, I [will come] back here and I don’t want to go anywhere else. I’m too old to learn new tricks.”

Petty has competed in only 14 races this year, missing several for TV and other commitments. Boston Ventures bought a majority interest in Petty Enterprises this year and its leadership has indicated it wants to improve performance and look at younger drivers.

Petty Enterprises CEO David Zucker indicated that the team would have two primary drivers next year – and Kyle Petty, who already has a six-race commitment to TNT, wouldn’t be one of them.

“We’re really focused on two cars for next year and look to grow from there,” Zucker said. “We’re still talking to Kyle on some kind of limited schedule depending on sponsorship. But he’s not going to be a primary driver in a car for us next year.

“We want to get back in the top 10. We want to be in the Chase next year.”

Petty likely would continue to drive the 45, which was the number of Petty’s son, Adam, who was killed during Nationwide Series practice eight years ago at New Hampshire. Michael Waltrip Racing Executive Vice President Cal Wells indicated that MWR will return the 44 to Petty Enterprises for its use next year.

Petty said any perception of a rift between him and the Boston Ventures people is not necessarily accurate.

“I can’t say we’ve always seen eye to eye, but they’re a good group,” said Petty, who is also considering driving some races in the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series. “And I would have to say that’s probably more me being a horse’s rear end than them being a horse’s rear end.

“You get so used to doing things the way you do them that when things change and someone wants to do them different &hellip it doesn’t mean the way they do it is wrong.”


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