[LSC9901]

For the third week in a row the number 45 car from Petty Enterprises will get loaded up onto the truck and sent home. This will be Kyle's second attempt to make it into the race on time this year, and his 2nd failure.

Is this another nail in the coffin of his driving career ?

[bob101]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

Is this another nail in the coffin of his driving career ?

Yes. Is it the last one? Dunno but it's getting close.

I think the question isn't is it the nail in the coffin for Kyle's career. But rather is it the nail in the coffin for Petty Enterprises as a whole.

[Quality88]

Originally Posted by bob101

Yes. Is it the last one? Dunno but it's getting close.

I think the question isn't is it the nail in the coffin for Kyle's career. But rather is it the nail in the coffin for Petty Enterprises as a whole.

It sure as hell ain't lookin good for PE, that's for sure.

[SteelPhoenyx]

If he had just been 2/10ths of a second faster...

[PenelopePitStop]

Regardless of the name and the legacy that goes along with it, I never thought that Kyle was a stand-out driver.

Tough call. Kyle's a great guy from what I've seen. I'd hate to see him give up racing. It's nice to have a Petty on the track ... when he makes the race.

Whatever he chooses to do, I wish him well.

[titans#1]

do you guys think this might put more pressure on the 43 car to do better since they are the only car out there for the third time.

[Bob Tanner]

Can someone answer these this question for me? I'm stumped.

Petty gets its engines from GEM, as does Robbie Gordon. Robbie doesn't set the world on fire but he's made every race but one on time. Robbie also doesn't have people the quality of Robbie Loomis and Jeff Meendering in his organization either. True, neither is actually attached to the #45 team but, since Kyle is the owner and he's having trouble, I would expect that getting that team up to speed is an "All Hands" evolution, in one form or another.

Why is a smaller team with lesser talent in the garage and lesser experience on the track making the races and the #45 isn't, yet his team mate seems to have little trouble?

Maybe it's just me but I think that's kind of...? Curious?

[LSC9901]

Is it possible that he just doesn't have what it takes anymore ?? How many times have we seen players in the ball games who stay beyond their usefulness ? There may be and have been drivers older than Kyle who have had fruitful careers but there are also far more that went out (sometimes on their face) far earlier than Kyle. In situations such as this no one really knows the answer to the problem. For us it's real easy to point a finger at the owner/driver/crew chief and so on, but virtually none of us are there and know little of what the actual problems might be. I hope whatever they do helps. If it doesn't then I hope they are all open enough to look at the next possibility.

[wingkey1]

Originally Posted by titans#1

do you guys think this might put more pressure on the 43 car to do better since they are the only car out there for the third time.

It'll likely add to the information that further defines and makes more clear the 43 drivers' choices for the/his future.

[Quality88]

Originally Posted by wingkey1

It'll likely add to the information that further defines and makes more clear the 43 drivers' choices for the/his future.

I believe you are correct.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

Is it possible that he just doesn't have what it takes anymore ?? How many times have we seen players in the ball games who stay beyond their usefulness ? There may be and have been drivers older than Kyle who have had fruitful careers but there are also far more that went out (sometimes on their face) far earlier than Kyle. In situations such as this no one really knows the answer to the problem. For us it's real easy to point a finger at the owner/driver/crew chief and so on, but virtually none of us are there and know little of what the actual problems might be. I hope whatever they do helps. If it doesn't then I hope they are all open enough to look at the next possibility.

I think Kyle is in a classic state denial (NOTE TO KYLE: Denial is NOT a river in Egypt!). He knows that he, alone, is the last vestige of the Petty racing legacy and is trying vainly to hold onto that vision. From an interview I heard, he indicated that he feels close to his late son when he is in the car, racing. If Kyle meant this the way it sounded this is sad and he is stuck in a place that isn't all that mentally healthy.

As it stands now, Kyle might be creating more problems than he is curing. Richard damaged his own legacy by hanging on five-six years too long and ending his career a pitiful shell of what he once was. Unfortunately his son might be headed down the same path. Because of trying to outmoded models of past success, a until recently refusal to do what other teams have proven to be successful, and to no allow young talent to become successful, the lights are beginning to dim on the Petty (and Wood Brothers) story.

I hope the last person out of the shop remembers to turn off the lights.

Petty fans, get angry with my above if you wish but I caution you, please don't let your sentimentality get in the way of practicality.

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

Petty fans, get angry with my above if you wish but I caution you, please don't let your sentimentality get in the way of practicality.

I agree Bob and I think many, many fans have trouble separating the two. I believe I've heard Kyle make that statement about Adam more than once and yes if it is true it is sad. Grief is a terrible monster but at some point we all have to try and grasp reality no matter how ugly it might be. We've all lost someone close to us and for many the grieving process takes time, but if that is his major reason for remaining in the car he needs to understand that he's not helping the company while he's trying to soothe his own feelings. I'm not against anyone grieving, but not at the expense it is creating. In an interview last week he stated that it takes about $300K per week to field a team and that is from top to bottom. That means in the last three weeks it has cost PE $900K and they aren't even racing to try and earn some of it back. I think it's time to look at the bigger picture.