It is just a matter of time before the merger between Gillett Evernham Motorsports and Petty Enterprises is finalized, meaning that the 43 car may no longer bear the Petty name. After selling majority interest to Boston Ventures last summer, the operation saw no improvements, leading to the current state of affairs.
It appears as if Reed Sorenson will drive the 43 car with U.S. Air Force as the primary sponsor for a select number of races. Robbie Loomis will remain with the team following the merger, or acquisition seems to be the better term, as he will have some sort of administrative duties.
David Zucker, who replaced Kyle Petty as the CEO at Petty Enterprises, is expected to be reassigned to the Petty Driving Experience. There are many unanswered questions regarding the 10 car. It seems as if sponsorship will dictate the fate of that ride. Several unemployed drivers would love to have that opportunity if it becomes available.
Without the Petty's, NASCAR is sure to have a different feel. Even though the team has enjoyed minimal success since the early 1980's, they are an essential part of NASCAR's roots, and a reminder of how NASCAR used to be. They represent what countless fans miss about the sport. Let's just hope that Richard Petty does not become a hermit and still attends the majority of the races. The only positive from this transaction is that Richard and his family will have less stress and headaches due to financial trepidation and the struggles on the track.
Foxsports
Kyle Petty may have a part-time gig awaiting him in 2009. According to Jayski, he may compete in as many as 14 races with EM Motorsports with Wells Fargo as the sponsor.
Kyle Busch wins on b-day
Friday, January 2, 2009
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10 comments:
All hail the King! And now a fond farewell to Petty Enterprises. Our whole family will miss the #43 PETTY car, and hope that the King continues to be a valuable resource to NASCAR.
Hate to see Robbie Loomis in an admin. job tho - he was a great crew chief and wish he'd return to the track in that role again.
My New Year's wish is for Bobby Labonte to get his permanent Sprint Cup ride. Love ya, Bobby!
Why couldn't Bobby have been hired to drive the 43 car? Great driver. He just didn't have good enough equipment. Love ya Bobby!
I just want to say Thank You Richard for giving me access to him and his family that were at Riversid back in the 70's.....Thank You
How sad is this... the 43 will always be a Petty car to me no matter what.
Now is the time to retire the 43 and the 3. For their part, NASCAR says retiring car numbers isn't like retiring a player's number. They say leagues can't retire a number across the board. That isn't true. When Wayne Gretzky retired, the NHL made the decision that no team shall use the number 99 again. So a league has done it. retire the 43. There's no reason GEM can't use the 44 or even the
45. Its time. Petty Enterprises is gone, just as surely as Dale Earnhardt himself is gone. retire the numbers now.
It is time to retire and honor the 43 & 3, no one needs to drive them ever again.
While we're at it. . . let's reduce the top 35 to the top 12 and make everyone race and qualify!
NASCAR your fans speak help your self and retire the number 43 and number 3
Petty Enterprises is NASCAR!!
Without a Petty there will never be a #43 on the track that I will follow. NASCAR has destroyed so much of its roots, and become so "Hollywood", that it reminds me of the comedy of Pro wrestling. Loosing PE is just another nail in NASCAR's coffin.
I am still looking forward to seeing Bobby on track in the '09 season, he is one of the Good-Old-Boys that helped make this sport what it was in the past and would help restore a true NASCAR to its roots, where the fans want it to be.
Nascar has only itself to blame for the shrinking number of cars racing in its series. The top 35 rule once had a place, but that was years ago, when they had only 35 fully sponsored teams (cars). The last few years, many heavily funded teams sat out on race day, because they were outside of the top 35 in owners points. How can Nascar expect any corporation to sponsor a team, knowing that it might not get the exposure that it paid for, because its car is sitting in the race shop, instead of the race track. Go back to letting the fastest 43 race, Nascar, before it's too late. But then, again, it might already be too late.
Well ive always had respect for the Petty`s.
BUT! I never in the last ten years ever see Kyle really out there to race he was along for the ride. in the back 35 or so Just to get the show up and finish money.
Ken Schrader was also so that way until the last few years, But then things got tough and serious, And it was then too late to make a come back or to be a favorite drive that everybody wanted in their cars. The sucked Bobby Labonte in for PR reasons and could provide him with a ride, That could put him in the bottom 15 ns.
Kyles had the same notoriety that Dale Jr. has but just done enough to get by with out any sweat.
sorry to say it But look back thats the way it is.
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