news-record.com

SPORTS

NASCAR notes: Petty's options a lot of talk, not much action

Sunday, November 9, 2008
(Updated 7:51 am)

AVONDALE, Ariz. -- Kyle Petty will make his final start of the season today, but he doesn't believe it will be the last of his NASCAR career.

Petty's status remains uncertain with Bobby Labonte and Chad McCumbee set to drive full time next year for Petty Enterprises. McCumbee will drive No. 45 in next weekend's season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Petty has talked to other teams about driving a partial schedule for them next year. His TV commitments will cause him to miss the six races TNT broadcasts because he serves as an analyst.

The Wood Brothers, a team Petty once drove for, is an option, he admits. Bill Elliott is considering returning to drive part-time for that team, meaning there could be some races available for Petty to run.

Petty, 48, says he still wants to race and that driving in the Grand American series, a road racing series, is among his options. He tested a car at Daytona last week.

Petty says sponsor Wells Fargo is more aligned with him than Petty Enterprises, so he might be able to take that sponsor to another team.

"There's a lot of people talking and not a lot happening,'' he says. "It's like being in a bar. Exactly the same thing.''

UNCERTAIN FUTURE: Car owner Bill Davis has been open to selling part of his team, but all he has to show for his efforts are "a couple of near misses.'' The economy is making it more difficult to do a deal with banks.

"Money availability seems to be the problem,'' Davis says.

With the season coming to a close, Davis is uncertain what will become of his team. He started the year with two cars, but Jacques Villeneuve was unable to get sponsorship and that second car quickly went away. Caterpillar leaves as sponsor for Dave Blaney's team to join Richard Childress Racing. Davis has not found a replacement.

Asked if he was optimistic he would have a car in the Cup garage next season, Davis said: "I'm an optimistic person, but I don't know what's going to happen. It's pretty tough times out here. There are not a lot of sponsors.''

Davis, whose truck team with Johnny Benson leads the points entering next week's season finale, has fielded a Cup team since 1993.

EDWARDS WINS: Carl Edwards rolled to a dominating win at Phoenix International Raceway to stay in mathematical contention for the Nationwide Series title.

Edwards, the defending series champion, led a race-high 78 laps.

eMail Updates

Advertisement | Advertise with Us

Local Tickets

View All

Featured Ads

Search

Advertisement | Advertise with Us
Advertisement | Advertise with Us
Advertisement | Advertise with Us

News & Record Network Sites

User Tools

  • Social Networking
  • RSS
  • Share
  • Sign in to MyNR

Search