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Mike Hembree: Kyle Petty and the future
By Mike Hembree - Associate Editor
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
COMMENTARY
To be Kyle Petty is to have been places that most of us will never go.
He grew up the son of the most famous racer in NASCAR history and lived with the knowledge that, for much of his career, his accomplishments would be compared to those of his father. This would be enough to thoroughly convince most people to pursue other avenues of enterprise, but Kyle jumped in with both feet, passing up chances to excel in other sports in college.
Even as Richard Petty continued to rule the sport he helped to popularize, Kyle won races and built a name for himself. At the peak of his career, he made some moves to challenge the sport’s dominant drivers, but his light was always dim when compared to his father’s. It was something almost everyone, including Kyle, expected.
Sliding down the homeward part of his career, Kyle’s emphasis shifted to his older son, Adam, and the family’s hopes of stretching the Pettys’ stock-car racing influence into a fourth generation.
That dream ended, of course, with Adam’s death in a practice-session crash at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in 2000. It was a tremendous tragedy for racing in general and a knife in the heart for racing’s first family. For Kyle, the loss was incalculable, and it remains so. The No. 45 cap he wears daily almost a decade after Adam’s death speaks to Kyle’s determination that the memories and influence of his son will not fade.
So, too, does the continuing miracle that is the Victory Junction Gang Camp. Started by the Pettys in memory of Adam, the central North Carolina camp continues to serve hundreds of chronically ill children, and a similar facility is in the works in Kansas City.
The camps and other charity work he performs – not his racing – will be Kyle Petty’s legacy. He knows this and is entirely comfortable with it.
Before Adam’s death, he chased wins and championships and fame with the verve one might expect from a talented driver and the son of an icon of the sport. Since 2000, his perspective has changed. After moving through months of grief and then re-establishing a forward approach to life with plans for and the ultimate building of the camp, Petty shifted his focus to life in general and away from the narrow lanes of the race track.
Now 48, Petty can see the end of his driving career. He doesn’t have it planned, and he hopes to drive in a part-time capacity for several more years. Sunday’s race at Phoenix might have been his last in a Petty Enterprises car.
Now the camp is much more his reason for being.
“I still like driving,” Petty said. “Here’s the funny part. You grow up, and a driver is all you ever want to be. Then when you don’t drive, in some ways you still consider yourself a driver because that’s who you were. Who you are is a driver, and that’s your first passion.
“Now – and I hope I’ve been as straightforward about this as I could be – I use this sport as much as I can as a platform to raise money, to raise awareness, for the camp, for any charity I truly believe in. I think people have done that more in recent years. To keep your foot in the sport as a participant, it adds some credibility to that. It may not, but in my mind it still does a little bit.
“When you do step away from it, I’m not saying that part of you dies, but you have to be able to get your hands around it and put it somewhere that it doesn’t bother you all the time.”
Kyle Petty isn’t there yet. He is a young 48, and his approach to life and his general demeanor lead you to believe he’s 28. He believes it, too.
His best might be yet to come.
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Comments
15 responses to "Mike Hembree: Kyle Petty and the future". Post a Comment.
Art Garrett said:
Nov 11, 2008 at 4:12 PMI understand its a business and the Petty's sold off controlling interests in their racing company. Its just a shame that the son of an icon of Nascar has little pull in the company that holds his family name. I think Earnhardt Junior can feel Kyle's pain. We all do as fans. I do hope that Kyle and the company that controls the majority interests can let Kyle leave the sport with dignity so he can continue the gift he gives to so many other children. God bless you Kyle and family. Sometimes the dreams and hopes of a vision go far above the corporate interests of a company.
Cindi Peace said:
Nov 11, 2008 at 4:39 PMI have to agree with you Art. Well said & I don't think I can add anything else except to say thanks to Kyle for giving me a driver to root for that I'm proud to have my daughter look up to.
david larison said:
Nov 11, 2008 at 5:27 PMGod speed, Kyle Petty.
Eleanor Harkins said:
Nov 11, 2008 at 5:33 PMMy favorite driver. I will miss you Kyle, but in life you do what you have to do.
Scott Hall said:
Nov 11, 2008 at 5:34 PMArt I agree with you as well. In my opinion, which doesn't count for a whole heckuva lot in the overall scheme of things, Kyle is getting the shaft by none other than Boston Ventures itself. They're big money oriented pure and simple. In the end I think it will hurt them, if they do show Kyle the door at PE. As for Kyle, nobody besides his dad has been a better ambassador for NASCAR. I truly hope Kyle can continue to drive somewhere if not at PE. I hope he is able to go out on his own terms and go out in a dignified way instead of being pushed out just for the sake of money by a bunch of people that know about as much about racing as I do about brain surgery.
Ken Matthews said:
Nov 11, 2008 at 6:21 PMWith all of the talented drivers out there without a ride, Kyle should have hung his helmet up 10 years ago. Good bye Kyle
Betty Stoneman said:
Nov 11, 2008 at 8:42 PMWell, Ken Matthews, aren't you just a bundle of joy? There are still a lot of us around who continue to be Kyle Petty fans, and will continue to be, long after he hangs up his helmet. I don't know how anyone could meet Kyle and not have a lot of liking and respect for the man, if not for the racer. Art, you said it best. It surely is not a good race day when there is no Petty on the track.
David Wells said:
Nov 11, 2008 at 9:03 PMI have been following NASCAR since 1968 and have never misseda race - I remeber the days of "Richard, David, Buddy and Cale" I also remember the days Kyle dominated a few tracks and i was at Watkins Glen when he won and perhaps his last win. But I also remember Richard petty and Dw, and Ricky rudd etc ( and now Bill Elliot riding around the track almost as filler in car that were not competitive . 0 And it is sad - So I say to Kyle get out and get out now. You have so much talent as an announcer you do not need to "ride around" . You will still be next to the spot you love and be able to command the respect and draw to acheive your real goals - Victory Junction. If I had a chance to go to Daytona in February I would walk right by any driver to shake your hand and praise what you hahve done and few if any on earth will ever accomplish as much. i praise you and wish you the best - Dave Wells - author of my own book on NASCAR 15 years ago - Winning Is No accident -
myrna perkins said:
Nov 12, 2008 at 7:47 AMAs a driver Kyles's grand moments did not come often enough for me. As a father, son, husband and friend to humanity he stands taller than tall. When he quits driving, I hope he will still be around on TV to 'tell it like it is.' odspeed, Kyle.
Randy Quesenberry said:
Nov 12, 2008 at 9:23 AMHaving worked around Kyle in his earlier days I can say he is a character. Although he never acheived the wins or titles of his dad and grandad he will always be remembered as a great driver for the "other things" in the sport. I hated to see PE merge, but NASCAR as we knew it died several years ago. I wonder though how long will it remain as we know it now. Ratings drop each week, ticket sales are struggling as well. Perhaps a cap on spending would renew the sport, limit owners to two car teams etc. and go back to the old rules. Things are so inconsistent today with the officiating. So many want to bash drivers in their blogs, but who are they? You ever try to get in the sport? Ain't the easiest thing to do. I was fortunate to have been in the sport many years ago and I enjoyed every minute of it. I have seen first hand teh struggles that owners, drivers and crew as well go through. In the early days you cut corners, saved and scrimped to make the track each week, but you came back because you loved the sport. How many of today's driver would show up without "that contract" and possibility of a big paycheck. I think Kyle is one of them, he truly loves the sport, that is all he has ever done. I hope if he gets a chance he can win one more for Adam and the rest of us. God Speed Kyle! There will always be room for you in my opinion. Randy Quesenberry Former member of "1978 Rookie of the year " Ronnie Thomas Racing
said:
Nov 12, 2008 at 12:22 PMI'm glad that Kyle is finally out of the 45 car, not because I wish him any ill will, but because the number 45 has been a curse for him from day one. Not only has the number cost him a son, but it has also been a burden because it never got to be quite the tribute he really wanted it to be for Adam. Don't blame his lackluster performance on his driving skills, blame it on the fact that PE still has a long way to go before they ever win again, even with Bobby. Rock on Kyle, don't ever give up.
Earl Abel said:
Nov 12, 2008 at 12:28 PMNo matter what Kyle,The fans are still with you.
Anonymous said:
Nov 12, 2008 at 2:17 PMhey kyle everyone cares what you do and if driving part time is what makes you happy great and if singing is what makes you happy go for it i just wish you would give Boris Said a chance to drive for you i really think he could help your team and you would be helping him too and he has a sponsor that will go with him allready . jim
Deborah Harris said:
Nov 13, 2008 at 2:03 PMKyle: I met you this summer during your charity ride in Lombard, IL. Like I told Patti, there is a lot of us out here that still believes in you. If you still want to race then race baby !!! Don't let anyone ( family or outsiders) tell you when it's time to go. Love You!!!! Your New friend in Lombard
Jason Sapienza said:
Nov 29, 2008 at 1:54 PMkyle is still a good driver,if you listen to him on the scanner the man really knows racing.Problem is the #45 is a lackluster car and team because the Pettys are underfunded,don't have the resources of the mega teams and because Richard has been too stubborn to change with the times.If Kyle was given a good car he'd still be a contender.Remember just last season he almost won the Coke 600 on one of the rare occasions he actually had a good car!