[Racer Duck]

By Bob Margolis, Yahoo! Sports
January 10, 2008

Kyle Petty
2007 season statistics (Cup)
Wins: None
Best Finish: 3rd (Charlotte-1)
Top-fives, top-10s, DNFs: 1, 1, 4 (29 starts)


2007 Recap
As his day-to-day focus continues to shift from driving to team operations and ownership, Petty's NASCAR driving career is nearing its end. However, the 47 year-old son of Richard Petty is exhibiting some of his best racing in decades. Although his finishes haven't exactly shown it – primarily due to missed set ups and equipment issues – in 2007 Petty qualified well and was competitive, despite not running a full season. Mid-year, he stepped out from behind the wheel to be an announcer for the TNT NASCAR broadcast team, returning once to both announce and drive – simultaneously – at Sonoma in June.

2008 Outlook
What's Next: Petty has repeatedly insisted that he's not ready to retire from driving – not just yet. And why should he? He's as popular as ever and keeping himself behind the wheel of the No. 45 Dodge Charger saves his organization from having to pay a big salary to someone else. Petty still enjoys being at the track and racing on Sundays. With his team's performance improving every week, Petty could race another two years – or longer.
Best case scenario: Heading into the 2008 season, Petty is locked into the top-35 in owner points. This will allow his team to focus more on performance. Remaining in the top-35 all season long shouldn't be an issue and a couple more top-10 finishes aren't out of the question.
Likely scenario: Petty will continue to finish a lap or two down to the race leaders, but those results will be less and less as the season moves forward. Throw in plenty of top-20 finishes.
Beware: The field in the Sprint Cup Series continues to get stronger and stronger each season, with the gap between the haves and the have nots widening. Which side of the fence will Petty Enterprises occupy?

[Racer Duck]

My answer to Bob Margolis's question

The field in the Sprint Cup Series continues to get stronger and stronger each season, with the gap between the haves and the have nots widening. Which side of the fence will Petty Enterprises occupy?

Kyle Petty & Petty Enterprises will experience a resurgence in 2008. Kyle will race less, finish better and take more responsibility in managing Petty Enterprises. Petty Enterprises will assume their rightful place with the "haves".

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

My answer to Bob Margolis's question
Kyle Petty & Petty Enterprises will experience a resurgence in 2008. Kyle will race less, finish better and take more responsibility in managing Petty Enterprises. Petty Enterprises will assume their rightful place with the "haves".

We can only hope, Duck.

My feeling is that they will be a little better but only slightly. Their move to the old Yates shops will open some doors but historically with any team without its own power plant development shop (PE lives off Evernham, I believe) there is a limit as to how successful it can be. My prediction is that Bobby will shine at times but the operation will continue to tread water.

As far as it goes, from my seat it would appear that Chevies in the playoffs will be almost exclusively RCR and Hendrick, Ford will be represented by Roush, Toyota will have Gibbs and MOPAR will probably again be Penske. (Maybe GEM but that show has become an enigma to me) Everyone else will be sucking the hind one on the right.

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

We can only hope, Duck.

My feeling is that they will be a little better but only slightly. Their move to the old Yates shops will open some doors but historically with any team without its own power plant development shop (PE lives off Evernham, I believe) there is a limit as to how successful it can be. My prediction is that Bobby will shine at times but the operation will continue to tread water.

As far as it goes, from my seat it would appear that Chevies in the playoffs will be almost exclusively RCR and Hendrick, Ford will be represented by Roush, Toyota will have Gibbs and MOPAR will probably again be Penske. (Maybe GEM but that show has become an enigma to me) Everyone else will be sucking the hind one on the right.

I agree .. without your own motor shop you just don't get consistently "stellar" performers, not that you get bad motors, it's just they aren't the Grade AAA Large ones...

but I don't think engines will keep them from getting consistently better finishes. I think they now realize how far behind the technology curve they are and will be working to close that gap and as they do, their performance will improve.

With Ray E. returning to the shop, I expect the GEM teams to improve. It was pretty obvious to everyone last year when he was missing so were his teams. Now that he doesn't have to muddle his mind with business stuff, he can get back to doing what he does best: build race cars and race teams. (And, hopefully, Ms. Crocker will spend her time in CTS learning her craft better.)

[Phils20]

I really believe that this year will place PE back on the side of the haves. I think Bobby new crew chief will bring him success, and that will bleed over to the 45 car. In addition, they will have an easier time keeping the in house crew and shop talent now that they are in that area. In the past, I think they groomed new folks, and have lost them to the more convenient teams in the Mooresville area.

The 43 will be in victory lane, and no worse than 15th in the points. Kyle could finish in the top 25, if he races every race.

We shall see!

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by Phils20

The 43 will be in victory lane, and no worse than 15th in the points. Kyle could finish in the top 25, if he races every race.

We shall see!

I believe Kyle is already committed to the summer TNT stint, with Marty Snyder and Bill Weber. I feel sorry for Kyle.

[Phils20]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

I believe Kyle is already committed to the summer TNT stint, with Marty Snyder and Bill Weber. I feel sorry for Kyle.

hmmmm, if you were Kyle, would you rather be between Larry Mac and DW??

I hope they can get the cars running well, to entice a good young driver to come to the team, so Kyle can just worry about management!

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by Phils20

hmmmm, if you were Kyle, would you rather be between Larry Mac and DW??

I hope they can get the cars running well, to entice a good young driver to come to the team, so Kyle can just worry about management!

Marty/Weber vs. DW and Larry Mac... Talk about a no-win situation!

They have a good little driver in Chad McCumbee. He needs some seasoning but he has a lot of potential.

[Phils20]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

Marty/Weber vs. DW and Larry Mac... Talk about a no-win situation!

They have a good little driver in Chad McCumbee. He needs some seasoning but he has a lot of potential.

Agreed, on both counts.

[oncea3fan]

would mind seeing shrader fill. in ,in the 45 , he a driver that tens not to tear stuff up a get a respectable finish

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by oncea3fan

would mind seeing shrader fill. in ,in the 45 , he a driver that tens not to tear stuff up a get a respectable finish

as much as I like Ken, he's never been one of those storied drivers who could get more out of a car than anyone else. and, yes, he tends not to tear stuff up although this past season I seem to remember him being down on himself after a wreck for making a rookie mistake .. and Kyle did the same thing .. guess it happens to all of them, if they're honest with themselves, that is....

that's why I like Ken and Kyle, they don't blame their mistakes on others...