Kris Johnson: Would a change in role alter Petty's impact in sport?
COMMENTARY
Kyle Petty is back.
For one week, anyway.
Petty returns to drive the No. 45 Petty Enterprises Dodge this weekend at Watkins Glen.
It’s been close to three calendar months since Petty competed in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte. The question going forward: How much longer will he continue to do so?
Most weekends, you need to look far back in the pack to track the progress of the No. 45 Dodge regardless of who is driving it. Performance, though, is often viewed as a secondary consideration when Petty is in the car (even though anybody involved with the team would never accept that).
The undeniable fact is Petty can’t race for victories anymore, but he wins every week by driving to honor the memory of his late son, Adam. And in doing so, he has a vehicle (pardon the pun) to keep the family’s Victory Junction Gang Camp in the public consciousness.
Athletes often have a difficult time stepping away, the twin tugs of competition and camaraderie being too great to overcome in retirement. Given Petty’s situation, there’s an entirely different dynamic at work. If he’s not driving, can he still help continue Adam’s legacy?
NASCAR’s first family has a tradition unlike any other in the sport, but it is not immune from the fiscal realities that govern the sport. With Boston Ventures in the ownership mix now, Petty Enterprises needs to become more competitive.
Kyle Petty may or may not have a role in that future development. Whether Petty runs a partial schedule next year or retires from full-time competition at season’s end, well, that should be a decision he makes as long as there is sponsorship to support his desired involvement.
Like recently retired Dale Jarrett, Petty is well-received in the broadcast booth. He can still be successful in NASCAR – with a microphone in his hand. Petty could land a full-time TV gig, and working in television will keep him directly involved in the sport. He can still be a great ambassador for Victory Junction and perhaps even send a stronger message from the booth than by finishing in the middle or back of the pack. Most important, Petty will also maintain a direct link to the people and companies involved in the sport that support the camp.
Staying in the car that was meant for Adam to continue the family’s legacy in the sport? It’s impossible to criticize the father, who probably feels closer to his son while he’s in that driver’s seat than anywhere else. But Adam’s legacy is, of course, inextricably intertwined with Victory Junction. Adam Petty displayed great talent and potential as a driver, but he is remembered most for his smile and kindness to others.
The long-term success of Victory Junction Gang Camp – and not the No. 45 Dodge – will pay the largest tribute to a son taken all too soon.
