[vincesanity82]

We come today not to praise Petty Enterprises and the Wood Brothers, but to pity them, And while we're at it, will the last person to leave please switch off the lights? In a sport where winning rules, the Pettys, once the dominant team in NASCAR, have been pitiful. A Petty car hasn't won a race since 1999 and has won only three since 1983. Do the math. That doesn't cut it and now the ship, long taking on water, is beginning to seriously list. The Wood Brothers, also legends in the sport, have suffered through similar pain, last winning in 2001 and winning but six times since 1983 with 14 different drivers. This season has been equally as traumatic with the team competing in but two of six races and being hopelessly mired at 44th in owner points, well beyond shouting distance of the top 35 and a guaranteed starting spot. -- Florida Today



Trouble lurks for two NASCAR teams | floridatoday.com | FLORIDA TODAY

[LSC9901]

Very difficult to defend but today in an interview with Bill Elliot he noted that a team like the Woods Brothers has it stacked against them. With only one car to run they have only 25% of the information as HMS and other multi-car teams. He noted that recently Carl Edwards ended up testing like crap and ultimately looked at the info from the other teams and used their set-ups. Woods Brothers does not have that option.

As much as we may hate the evolution of the multi car teams, it is here to stay. I'm sure there are options that NASCAR could take but they have to deal with sponsors at the same time.

[simple simon]

is this a testament to the fact that while Richard is a great driver he is a horrible business man ?

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by simple simon

is this a testament to the fact that while Richard is a great driver he is a horrible business man ?

Facts are he WAS a good driver in his day. No way you can compare his abilities to the drivers of today. Secondly somewhere in the business end of PE they have missed doing what was needed. Was it drivers, technology .... who knows. Point is they are behind many of the top teams.

[DOF_power]

>
^ As is other forms of motorsport (or just sport; business sport that is) it's a matter of proper management/organizational skill(/talent/intuition) first and foremost.
Former champions ARE NOT GOOD team managers/bosses .
They tent do be addicted to the "in my days/ it was intended like this" mentality and are blind to the one great constant CHANGE .

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by DOF_power

>
^ As is other forms of motorsport (or just sport; business sport that is) it's a matter of proper management/organizational skill(/talent/intuition) first and foremost.
Former champions ARE NOT GOOD team managers/bosses .
They tent do be addicted to the "in my days/ it was intended like this" mentality and are blind to the one great constant CHANGE .

I never thought of it in those terms but darn! You're right. The old story of "Success breeds complacency." That's a main reason why success tends to be cyclical in competitive sports.

[Racer Duck]

cyclical? good description.

in the beginning you just want to make the race.
then you want to place well.
then you start looking for a win, any win.
finally you get one and immediately start looking for another .. and another.
pretty soon you start getting used to winning.
not long after than you begin expecting to win.
then you get to the point where not winning is unacceptable!!!
then you start not winning more and more.
one day you realize it's been a long time since you last won.
then you start missing races.
then you just want to make the race...

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

cyclical? good description.

in the beginning you just want to make the race.
then you want to place well.
then you start looking for a win, any win.
finally you get one and immediately start looking for another .. and another.
pretty soon you start getting used to winning.
not long after than you begin expecting to win.
then you get to the point where not winning is unacceptable!!!
then you start not winning more and more.
one day you realize it's been a long time since you last won.
then you start missing races.
then you just want to make the race...

That's correct for the driver, Duck. However, this is concerning the scope of the entire team. What you describe is a good view on driving ability. But, with Petty, Wood, Morgan-McClure, Bud Moore, et. al., it's a ... narrow minded refusal to make necessary changes and look at the sport as your successful competition does and not just as you're used to looking at it.

The fact that your competition is suddenly outspending you and acquiring all manner of financial backing, unheard of in decades past, doesn't help things, either.

Or, that's my take on it, anyway.

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

That's correct for the driver, Duck. However, this is concerning the scope of the entire team. What you describe is a good view on driving ability. But, with Petty, Wood, Morgan-McClure, Bud Moore, et. al., it's a ... narrow minded refusal to make necessary changes and look at the sport as your successful competition does and not just as you're used to looking at it.

The fact that your competition is suddenly outspending you and acquiring all manner of financial backing, unheard of in decades past, doesn't help things, either.

Or, that's my take on it, anyway.

I believe it works for not only the driver but the entire team from the top down, including the sponsors. When you're fighting to improve and doing what you must to do so, you're on the "up" side of the curve. However, once you've reached the top, it's way too common for people/teams to become "content" and begin expecting their dominance to continue just because. When that happens, they begin loosing ground, i.e., they're on the down side of the curve.

There's a saying I like: "You're either living and growing or dying and wasting away - there's no in-between." All too often folks forget every day is a new day and what was done yesterday is only good for memories and record books and if they aren't actively engaged in improving their lot, then they are losing ground to those who are. It's not about spending money or anything like that. It's about seeking out new ideas, looking for people who are forward looking and who are intrested in always improving their "status quo" and being open to new directions, which can sometimes be very painful, but necessary to improve.

A good example: back in the day when the Wood Brothers were the pinacle for pit crews, a 20 second pit stop was almost unheard of. Then several years ago, Benny Parsons gave an award to the team who made a 13 second pit stop. Not too long before he died, we started seeing 12 second pit stops. Now they are common. These guys drill every day to improve their technique; they look at personnell with a critical eye -produce or good-bye. They are continually looking for and trying new ways to shave hundredths of a second off their times. Even though an 18 second pit stop seemed impossible back then, it's a disaster today. That's the kind of pursuit I'm speaking about.

What was more than enough to win a championship back then won't even make the field today.

At least, that's how I see it...

[titans#1]

when you guys say petty interprises is struggling to make the races do you guys mean the #45 car is struggling because the #43 car makes them just fine and labonte even qualifies in the top 5 every once in a while.but i do think labonte will never have success in the #43 car,he came to PE to help them rebuild the team but they just got worst.and should we really question if labonte will stay because he likes the petty's when kyle petty doesnt even want to stay.

[jks812]

Originally Posted by titans#1

and should we really question if labonte will stay because he likes the petty's when kyle petty doesnt even want to stay.

Thats not what Kyle said. Kyle said if they decided to make the driver change in the 45 permanent, then he would go to another team. He didn't say that he didn't want to stay.

[LSC9901]

According to reports Kyle will be in the car at Phoenix. I sure hope he can qualify it. If they miss to many races they'll never get a shot of getting into the top 35.

[Bryan88]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

According to reports Kyle will be in the car at Phoenix. I sure hope he can qualify it. If they miss to many races they'll never get a shot of getting into the top 35.

They are already 200 points behind 35th place, so they have a mountain to climb to get into 35th place. Also, Petty is not really that good at Phoenix. Statistically he has been the worst qualifier at Phoenix of those outside the top 35 (not including rookies), with an average career qualifying position of 32.0. Hopefully they can get their act together and qualify.

Driver Averages at Phoenix
NASCAR Drivers Averages at Phoenix International Raceway