[LSC9901]

Today in qualifying Kyle Petty qualified 44th, consequently not making the race. How long will this continue before the sponsor wants a new driver ? How long will Kyle remain at the wheel before giving up ? Should he go or should he stay.

[bob101]

The end happened sadly when Adam Petty got killed.

Since then Kyle has been riding around in cirlces raising awareness for his charity - not racing.

Charity is a good thing. Riding around in circles during a race to raise money for your charity is a bad thing.

I'm sure I'm in the minority but in the last years Kyle hasn't excactly been much of a racer and that has nothing to do with his equipment.

[Phils20]

I can't answer this using any of the options. I think they are just too far behind the times. Only the fact the Labonte is a better driver than Kyle has allowed the 43 to be even mediocre.

We'll never know how good or bad Kyle still is, since he is riding around in that car. I don't think anyone could win in that car, and even though I think more effort, and better people, are working on the 43, I'm not sure that many other drivers could do a lot better than Bobby is doing.

This season is critical to the entire PE team for the future. If Bobby doesn't win, I think he will leave.

And his leaving before the rebuilding of PE is complete might just be the death blow for the whole company.

[jks812]

Originally Posted by bob101

The end happened sadly when Adam Petty got killed.

Since then Kyle has been riding around in cirlces raising awareness for his charity - not racing.

Charity is a good thing. Riding around in circles during a race to raise money for your charity is a bad thing.

I'm sure I'm in the minority but in the last years Kyle hasn't excactly been much of a racer and that has nothing to do with his equipment.

I agree with this. I think losing Adam took it out of Kyle in more ways than one. I do think he should get out of the car and let someone else have it. But, as long as the equipment's not up to par it'll be hard to find somebody that's much better than Kyle. I would like to see him put McCumbee in it and let him get some experience the rest of this year. And then let him have it full time next year. Maybe next year some things will be going better there.

[Bryan88]

Honestly, I would have to say yes. I realize PE is a 3rd tier team and he is not in that great of equipment, but he just doesn't seem to be able to compete anymore. The one I feel real bad for is Bobby, imagine if he was in RCR equipment, I think he would have a great shot of being in the chase. Personally I think it would be in PE's best interest to get a different driver in the #45.

[jks812]

Originally Posted by Bryan88

The one I feel real bad for is Bobby, imagine if he was in RCR equipment, I think he would have a great shot of being in the chase.

I'm not gonna say Bobby's only problem is the Petty equipment. I mean, the last time he won was in 2003. And he wasn't driving for the Petty's til what,2006?

[Phils20]

Originally Posted by jks812

I'm not gonna say Bobby's only problem is the Petty equipment. I mean, the last time he won was in 2003. And he wasn't driving for the Petty's til what,2006?

True, to a point. He missed the first chase during the last race before it despite not winning. And he has won in the truck and Busch series. I still say that if you put him in a good car, he can win. When Jimmy Makar got promoted, he went through about 4 crew chiefs with JGR. And he was in 6th in the standings when JGR fired Fatback. After that his season went sour, and that was sort of the end at JGR.

So no, I would say Bobby is very far from a shot driver. You could put any driver out the in PE equipment, and I don't think they could even make the chase in it.

I say the beginning of Bobby issues happened when Makar stepped away, and that team is finally starting to gel with Addinngton and Kyle Bush there.

[cdublxi]

Wasting room on the track for more deserving drivers.

[PettyBlue]

Right or wrong Kyle owns the car/team and can drive it as long as he damn well please's.Same as Richard did between 1985-1992.Should he,no.Can he,yes.Will he,up to him.

[NASCAR Gnome]

There comes a time in every competitor's life where you end up having arguments between your heart and your head, your mind and your body.

Your mind says "you can do it!" while your body isn't so responsive; your heart tells you to "give it one more shot" while your brain is saying "I don't know about this..."

I voted "yes" for Kyle to hang it up and for the benefit of his famous family name and company, perhaps it's best. Kyle would make a great spokesperson for his charity as well as perhaps a TV announcer. He's very intelligent and extremely well-spoken so I don't see a problem for him to transition out of driving.

Now if only his heart and mind will let him call it quits...

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by cdublxi

Wasting room on the track for more deserving drivers.

That's another whole thread in itself. That could be pointed at lots of drivers, but this thread is about Kyle so I'll stop right there.

[wardfan]

I think Kyle's heart hasn't been in it since Adam was killed. I think the plan was for Adam to drive & for Kyle to step aside. I also think the only reason Kyle is still driving is that it's him that the sponsers want and he must drive to bring in the money. I bet he would have stepped out along time ago if they could get sponser money without him. He is an excellent broadcaster and hope he will make the move to that.

[BiscuitMan]

Well, I just voted and for once I'm in the majority. It's unanimous so far.

I agree with what most everyone has been commenting about Kyle Petty and his driving ability. In years past he was a competitive driver. However, he has lost his edge on driving skills regardless of his equipment. He seems to be making laps rather than racing. Petty Enterprises is really at a crossroads in their journey to being a successful race team. This year's move to Mooresville was to position themselves in the racing community and make it easier to get technically competent people to build their cars and engines. That alone is not going to make a winner on the track.

Kyle needs to step back and take a good account of where he and Petty Enterprises is at the moment. So many drivers have proven that you can't be a driver and be a team owner at the same time. Just look at Ricky Rudd, Darrell Waltrip, Bill Elliott and others. The sport has become too big and too technical for Kyle to do both.

They have the rest of this season to position themselves with good drivers for next year. I think Bobby will be somewhere else next season and if they are to be a two-car team, Kyle had better get two potentially good drivers to be in the 43 and 45 cars next year.

[Souporscotty]

Originally Posted by PettyBlue

Right or wrong Kyle owns the car/team and can drive it as long as he damn well please's.Same as Richard did between 1985-1992.Should he,no.Can he,yes.Will he,up to him.

I agree. IMSVHO Kyle is good for the sport.

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by Souporscotty

I agree. IMSVHO Kyle is good for the sport.

I'm confused how you mean that: as an announcer? car owner? driver? or personallity?

I agree he is a good announcer and personallity, disagree he's a good driver (now) and see him as a so-so owner (now). Understand, I'm talking about now and am in no way slighting his accomplishments over the years. But it's been years since he's accomplished anything substantial within the sport.