Kyle Petty honors son Adam with black band on hat

By Bob Pockrass - Associate Editor
Sunday, October 26, 2008
$util.encode.html($content.photo.alt)

Kyle Petty is wearing a black band over the No. 45 on his hat to honor his son Adam.

David Griffin
NASCAR Scene

HAMPTON, Ga. – Kyle Petty is wearing a black band over the No. 45 on hats he is wearing to honor his son, Adam Petty, who died in 2000 during Busch Series practice at New Hampshire.
 
Petty said it was his son Austin’s idea and should not be construed as a statement against new Petty Enterprises majority owner Boston Ventures.
 
“When Adam was killed and Austin said lets put a black band across [the number],” Petty said Sunday at Atlanta Motor Speedway. “If you live in our neighborhood, you’ll see hundreds of these numbers [with black bands] on cars around our neighborhood. … When I started driving the 45, I said I drive the 45 and that’s Adam’s car and I didn’t even put my name on that car.
 
“So since I’m not driving the 45 as much, Austin about a month ago said, ‘Why don’t you go back and wear that hat again.’ And I thought, ‘Good idea.’ All I did was switch back since I’m not driving the 45 full time.
 
“Austin’s opinion was, and I deferred to him, that it was Adam’s number and Adam’s car and now you’re not in it, let’s go back and close the personal door. It’s a personal thing. It’s not a statement. It’s not anything other than that.”
 
Petty had said earlier in the weekend that Boston Ventures, which bought its stake in the organization in June, had not helped the competitive side yet of the teams.
 
Petty said Sunday that he was trying to explain that none of the mergers have helped on the competitive side and Boston Ventures had only been with the organization for four months.

Comments

8 responses to "Kyle Petty honors son Adam with black band on hat ". Post a Comment.
  1. 1
    Lynn Zimmerman said:
    Oct 26, 2008 at 1:13 PM

    What a wonderful way to honor Adam. Austin was right about putting the black band back on your hat. I am a fan of yours and was a fan of Adam's.

  2. 2
    BOYD BRIGMAN said:
    Oct 26, 2008 at 1:55 PM

    I THINK IT WAS A GREAT WAY TO HONOR ADAM, I FEEL SAD FOR KYLE AS WELL AS RICHARD FOR HAVING TO DO WHAT THEY HAD TO DO WITH SELLING OFF OF SOME OF PE TO BOSTON VENTURES
    I DONT SEE WHERE BOSTON VENTURES HAS HELPED PE, LOOKS LIKE THEY HAVE JUST CAUSED A LOT
    OF CONFUSION IN THE PETTY FAMILY, I JUST
    FEEL SO SORRY FOR KYLE AND HIS FAMILY, I
    THINK THE TIME HAS COME FOR KYLE TO LOOK AT
    ANOTHER TEAM, I THINK KYLE COULD PERFORM IF
    HE WAS GIVEN THE CHANCE IN TOP NOTCH EQUIPMENT

  3. 3
    Kenneth Farley said:
    Oct 26, 2008 at 1:59 PM

    If Kyle wants to wear a black band on his hat, then let him wear the black band. Kyle is part of NASCAR's royalty and should be given some slack. I also think that he is right where he wants to be, with his family.

  4. 4
    Lisa Brown said:
    Oct 26, 2008 at 3:04 PM

    We have been fans of the Petty family for years, and we always will be. I think that Kyle does an excellent job in the broadcast booth, but I really miss seeing him on the racetrack. I have no doubt that he is perfectly capable of being competitive and of winning races, given the proper equipment. The world is a little less bright without Adam in it, and I feel the black band across the 45 is quite appropriate.

  5. 5
    Sharon Jarrell said:
    Oct 26, 2008 at 6:57 PM

    Kyle should wear the black ban if he wants to, I feel that Kyle should be behind the 45 wheel on race days, he could do better if he had better cars. I will always be a
    Kyle Petty fan but if Petty Interprise isn't behind him I can't be behind Petty Interprise. A kyle Petty fan forever. Boston Ventures and Robbie Loomis is making a mistake in taking Kyle of the 45 car.

  6. 6
    Janet Bruning said:
    Oct 27, 2008 at 1:56 PM

    I lost "my driver" that same year at the same track, Kenny Irwin. That was one sad year for many. I give Kyle credit for doing something in honor of his son, Adam. I just wanted any other Kenny Irwin fans out there to know I still remember him, and have some of his collectibles.

  7. 7
    Kenneth Farley said:
    Oct 28, 2008 at 8:42 PM

    Amen to that, I remember Kenny, what a tragic loss, as was Adam and the loss to the Hendrick family.

  8. 8
    Kenneth Farley said:
    Oct 28, 2008 at 8:47 PM

    Oh yeah, and let's not forget Dale Earnhardt, Bobby Hamilton, Donny Allison, and all the others, may they rest in peace and cheer us on in the afterlife.

Post a Comment

Disclaimer: All comments are subject to filtering for language, and libelous content. Comments are intended to encourage spirited debate and discussion about the subject matter contained within the articles and ARE NOT intended for personal or demeaning attacks directed at other users. We reserve the right to remove any comments deemed inappropriate. Users who violate this policy may be banned from posting comments on the site.

Comment Preview

Mar 14, 2010 at 11:51 PM
You said:

You must login before you can post comments or rate content.

If you don't have an account you can create a free one here.

#

NASCAR Schedules

fox

Food City 500

Bristol Motor Speedway
01:00 PM, 03/21/2010
Check out the SPEED Calendar

Poll PositionView All

How should NASCAR penalize Carl Edwards?

Promotions

  • Tweet your thoughts about each race and join the conversation with other fans.

  • Drive an authentic NASCAR Sprint Cup car at the NASCAR Racing Experience.