Kyle Petty
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Possible Demise of Petty Enterprises Dominates Off
Thirty years ago, no one involved in stock Car Racing neither imagined nor predicted the demise of Petty Enterprises. Lee Petty built the ship that has sailed ever since the beginning of NASCAR.Lee Petty won three championships and was arguably the first true superstar of NASCAR. His son Richard came along and inscribed his name all over the NASCAR record books.Countless records set by Richard Petty, widely known as ‘The King’, may never be broken.
Richard Petty won 200 races and seven championships, and that is not even scratching the surface of all that he has accomplished as a driver and owner. Other than a couple of years in the mid-1980’s, Richard Petty’s entire career was spent with the organization his father built. Petty Enterprises’ ascendancy from the early 1950’s to the late 1970’s may have been even greater than Hendrick Motorsports’ and Roush Fenway Racing’s in the 2000’s.
Third generation driver Kyle Petty emerged in the late 1970’s, as the teenager made his first Cup start on NASCAR’slongest and what was then the fastest facility, Talladega. However, unlike his father and grandfather, Kyle won his first race while driving for someone other than Petty Enterprises. His first win occurred nearly eight years following his debut, and it was at Richmond with the Wood Brothers, a team that gave the Petty’s fits throughout the 1960’s and 1970’s.
Following his four-year tenure with the Wood Brothers, Kyle Petty joined the Felix Sabates-owned operation in 1988, which is where he enjoyed most of his success. In fact, six of Kyle’s eight career wins occurred while driving for Felix Sabates. Petty left Sabates following the 1996 season to return to the family business, and he has not won since. In fact, since Petty’s last win in 1984, which was for Mike Curb, the famed number ‘43’ car has three wins, two with Bobby Hamilton, Sr., and one with John Andretti.
In the late 1990’s, Kyle’s son Adam was developing into a fine young racer. Many in the garage began likening Adam to his grandfather. He was 100 percent dedicated to racing. Sadly, his life ended much too soon in a tragic accident while practicing for a Busch Series race in Loudon, New Hampshire in April of 2000. Nobody saw it at the time, but that was the beginning of the end for Petty Enterprises. Adam provided hope that a Petty would once again rise to the top.
Throughout the 2000’s, Petty Enterprises has fallen deeper and deeper in the pack. Just five years ago, Petty Enterprises had three teams, now they only have the ‘43’, and even that is not enough to attract full-time sponsorship.
In 2006, resurgence appeared inevitable for Petty Enterprises, as they signed 2000 champion Bobby Labonte, and rehired Robbie Loomis. However, Labonte has remained in mid-pack.
Petty Enterprises eventually relocated to a shop closer to the Charlotte area, abandoning their long-time home in Level Cross, North Carolina. In 2008, Boston Ventures, and investment firm, purchased controlling interest in Petty Enterprises with hopes of leading the storied organization back to the forefront. Instead, things have only worsened. Kyle Petty was basically kicked to the curb, and a sponsorship deal for the ‘45’ team fell through. That all led us to where we are today…the discussion on the Petty decline.
Ever since the 2008 season concluded at Homestead, the headlines are rarely pertaining to Jimmie Johnson’s third consecutive championship. It has been the potential merger between Gillett Evernham Motorsports and Petty Enterprises. The merger would allow the ‘43’ team to be absorbed by Gillett Evernham Motorsports. Meanwhile, the ‘45’ car would be phased out.
Even with the ‘43’ still on the track, it will not be same as when it was Richard’s car. It will be a jagged pill to swallow for hardcore Petty fans, as well as traditional fans that hold on to the good old days.
Who would drive the ‘43’ car? Petty Enterprises released veteran Bobby Labonte earlier in the week, so it will likely be an upstart driver such as Reed Sorenson or A.J. Allmendinger. While they are talented young drivers, they certainly have not earned the right to be in union with perhaps the most revered car number in NASCAR history.
Traditionalists were kicked while they were already down, as previously the Wood Brothers operation announced that they will only compete in twelve races in 2009.
The fall of former NASCAR empires is somewhat reminiscent to the 1990’s and early 2000’s when legendary car owners such as Junior Johnson, Bud Moore, and Junie Donlavey left the sport. Teams owned by Bobby Allison and Cale Yarborough could not survive the 1990’s.
Today, Petty Enterprises and the Wood Brothers have fallen on hard times. Poor economic conditions forced Dale Earnhardt, Inc. to merge with another team, and now identified as Earnhardt Ganassi Racing. Robert Yates Racing became Yates Racing in 2008, and seems to be under the Roush Fenway Racing umbrella. They have struggled to secure full-time sponsors since M&M’s left for Joe Gibbs Racing. While the name ‘Yates’ is still in the building, and the ‘28’ car is back, it just not feel the same as it did a decade ago.
Let us just hope that when the 43 hits the track in February of 2009, it is still dressed in Petty blue with the same recognizable number font.
About the Author
Jeremy Dunn writes Nascar Racing articles for http://www.nascapper.com and handicaps nascar weekly. Check out his nascar racing picks in his articles.
Kyle Petty Remembers
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KYLE PETTY WELLS FARGO DRIVER SUIT FIRESUIT $15,000.00 |
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KYLE PETTY HOT WHEELS 1999-2000 DRIVER SUIT FIRESUIT $15,000.00 |
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KYLE PETTY 2003 brickyard garfield used driver firesuit $9,999.99 |
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92 Kyle Petty Mello Yellow Racing driver suit firesuit $9,999.99 |
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Kyle Petty 03 Ride across america driver suit firesuit $9,999.99 |
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KYLE PETTY 2007 NATIONAL TIRE & BATTERY FIRESUIT $9,999.00 |
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KYLE PETTY 2004 GEORGIA PACIFIC USED DRIVER FIRE SUIT $9,999.00 |
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KYLE PETTY 2007 NTB/Petty Enterprises drivers FIRESUIT $9,999.00 |
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KYLE PETTY 2002 SPRINT DRIVER FIRE SUIT PETTY $9,999.00 |
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KYLE PETTY 2002 ADAM PETTY SPRINT BELL VORTEX HELMET $6,000.00 |
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PETTY ENTERPRISES KYLE PETTY SPRINT 2001 CREW SUIT $5,000.00 |
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PETTY ENTERPRISES KYLE PETTY SPRINT 2001 CREW SUIT $5,000.00 |
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KYLE PETTY winston cup espn pit reporter fire suit 1994 $3,000.00 |
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Kyle Petty 2005 Charity Ride Jacket XL $3,000.00 |
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Kyle Petty 2006 Charity Ride Jacket large $3,000.00 |
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Kyle Petty 2009 Charity Ride Jacket XL $3,000.00 |
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KYLE PETTY CHARITY RIDE ACROSS AMERICA 2003 JACKET XL $3,000.00 |
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KYLE PETTY CHARITY RIDE ACROSS AMERICA 2004 JACKET XXL $3,000.00 |
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KYLE PETTY CHARITY RIDE ACROSS AMERICA 2007 JACKET XL $3,000.00 |
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KYLE PETTY CHARITY RIDE ACROSS AMERICA 2000 JACKET XL $3,000.00 |
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KYLE PETTY CHARITY RIDE ACROSS AMERICA 2001 JACKET XL $3,000.00 |
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KYLE PETTY CHARITY RIDE ACROSS AMERICA 1999 JACKET XXL $3,000.00 |
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KYLE PETTY CHARITY RIDE ACROSS AMERICA 1998 JACKET MED $3,000.00 |
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KYLE PETTY CHARITY RIDE ACROSS AMERICA 1998 JACKET XXL $3,000.00 |
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KYLE PETTY CHARITY RIDE ACROSS AMERICA 1997 JACKET LG $3,000.00 |
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KYLE PETTY 1992 MELLO YELLOW PEDAL CAR $1,999.00 |
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KYLE PETTY 2002 SPRINT DRIVER SHOES PETTY ENTERPRISES $1,500.00 |
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Kyle Petty The Tradition Continues 127/1542 by Nascar Artist by Jeanne Barnes $895.00 |
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ADAM KYLE PETTY ANDRETTI AUTOGRAPHED SPRINT PHOTO RARE! $299.99 |
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DALE EARNHARDT DALE JARRETT KYLE PETTY STAND UP $255.00 |
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KYLE PETTY GARY NELSON 1989 PEAK JACKET SIZE MED $249.00 |
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56- KYLE PETTY NASCAR INSERT CARD LOT MINT $194.40 |
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kyle petty/georgia pacific, cloth racing jacket, worn once $175.00 |
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vintage Kyle Petty 7-11 Thunderbird team issued Shirt M -autographed $175.00 |
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KING OF THE ROAD Richard Petty & Kyle Petty SIGNED Book $175.00 |
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HOTWHEELS (SEALED) LEGENDS TO LIFE KYLE PETTY NASCAR MOTORIZED MINT AND MINT BOX $144.99 |
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1/24 ACTION RCCA KYLE PETTY PUMPKIN CAR VERY RARE ! ! ! ! LOOK ! ! ! ! $149.95 |
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AUTOGRAPHED BY KYLE & RICHARD PETTY 2001 SPRINT TC CAR $136.95 |
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Kyle Petty Hot Wheels Cars of the New Millenium shirt $135.00 |
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125- KYLE PETTY VINTAGE NASCAR CARD LOT $125.00 |
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Sprint Racing Kyle Petty autographed Signed jacket & 2 hats (unsigned) nwt nwot $125.00 |
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Kyle Petty NASCAR Mattel Hot Wheels Mens Jacket Size Large/ Collectors $120.00 |
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Kyle Petty Signed 21″ X 26″ Litho Auto PSA/DNA Sam Bass $99.99 |
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Kyle Petty Father’s Day 1:24 diecast SIGNED by Richard Petty and Kyle COA L $109.95 |
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KYLE PETTY CLOCK CA06, VERY EARLY ISSUE #693/10,000 $100.00 |
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1994 Action Packed Kyle Petty Earring Studs AP /250 $112.95 |
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1985 Kyle Petty 7 Eleven 1/24 RCCA Elite LOW#34 of 408 $99.99 |
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2008 Kyle Petty #45 Well Fargo “ELITE” #53 of 300 8 Pictures Rare Diecast $99.95 |
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KYLE PETTY AND FRIENDS RACE USED BASEBALL UNIFORM SIGNED BY BUDDY PARROTT $99.99 |
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Set of 13 Kyle Petty #44 Hot Wheels Cars Racing $99.99 |
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Kyle Petty Autograph 1/24 Die Cast Hot Wheels Nascar $95.00 |
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Kyle Petty Autograph 1/24 Die Cast Red White & Blue Car $95.00 |
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Kyle Petty Lot cards 200 $100.00 |
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2000 Team Caliber Owners Series Kyle Petty Hot Wheels $100.00 |
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Richard Petty & Kyle Petty Nascar Legend Rare Signed Autograph FDC $99.99 |
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RARE! Kyle Petty autographed 1983 7-11 PONTIAC HERO pic $99.99 |
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#7 Kyle Petty 7-11 Stores 1:24 Ford Thunderbird Nascar Elite 1 of 408 Mint $99.99 |
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KYLE PETTY PE 2 PIT CREW SHIRT USED SIZE LARGE $99.00 |
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KYLE PETTY PE 2 PIT CREW SHIRT RED USED SIZE LARGE $99.00 |
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KYLE PETTY #42 -1932 LOCKHEED VEGA (00310B) LIBERTY $84.95 |
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Nascar 1992 Mello Yello Kyle Petty Porcelain Coffee Mug 3 3/4 x 3 1/4 Nascar 1992 Mello Yello Kyle Petty Porcelain Coffee Mug 3 3/4″ x 3 1/4″… |
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Nude Rolling Down an Escalator: Studies for Disklavier $11.84 All products are BRAND NEW and factory sealed. Fast shipping and 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed…. |
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Composer’s Special: Bach’s Fight for Freedom [VHS] $3.58 Bach’s Fight for Freedom VHS Tape…. |
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Bach’s Fight for Freedom [VHS] $6.38 … |
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Driving Force: Inspiring Stories Of Faith, Life & Success $25.00 For a true adrenaline rush, few sports offer the intensity & competitive spirit of stock car racing. Wiht each race demanding a life-threatening balance of speed & skill, dirivers must rely on more than just ability to be champions. This video features an all-star cast of NASCAR drivers & racing personalities who have helped make stock car racing the fastest growing spectator sport in America…. |
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Monster Garage – Season One $6.90 Wonderfully pointless, enthrallingly irrelevant, the Discovery Channel’s Monster Garage is a highly entertaining reality show about what it takes for complete strangers to cooperate 16 hours a day, 6 days in a row while re-tooling ordinary cars and vans into, well, really dumb but awesome stuff. Led by a heavily tattooed and likeable outlaw named Jesse James (yes, he claims to be a descendant of t… |
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Petty Blue $4.95 Narrated by Kevin Costner, this documentary from CMT examines how the Petty family has dominated motorsports for four generations. Through race footage, archival photos, and interviews with Richard Petty, Kyle Petty, Adam Petty, and others, you’ll learn how the tight-knit clan became NASCAR royalty and inspired fans and drivers alike. 91 min. Widescreen; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital 5.1; dele… |
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Stroker Ace $2.99 … |
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Tim Richmond (Paperback) $11.19 Tim Richmond was, fellow NASCAR driver Kyle Petty said, “a stranger in time.” In one regard, the flashy, flamboyant driver from Ashland, Ohio, was years ahead of the trends in a sport that would soon enjoy explosive growth in popularity. Women who were… |
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