Petty back in the #45 at California: This weekend, Kyle Petty and the #45 Wells Fargo Dodge team will travel west to the two-mile California Speedway for Sunday's Sharp Aquos 500. Petty will be making his return to the #45 Dodge after missing the past two weeks with a broken hand suffered at Watkins Glen International. Petty regrets the episode, but it showed the racing community that he still has that competitive fire burning. Petty remains determined to keep the team inside the top-35 in owner points. In 14 starts at California, Petty has notched two top-20 finishes. On a historical note, Petty is the only driver entered this weekend that competed in the final race at Ontario Motor Speedway in 1980. Ontario was the first oval track foray by NASCAR into southern California. Comments from Petty as he prepares for Sunday's California 500: "Yea, I think it's going to be good. We're going to get out there in the first practice session and just feel out the hand. Right now, it feels pretty good. I don't expect I will have any problems. My doctors worked hard repairing the bone that was broken. I really wanted to race last weekend at Bristol, but it wasn't a good idea. Bristol is a tough track on you physically. California is much easier on your body. Chad (McCumbee) and Kenny (Wallace) did a great job for me while I healed. Everyone at Petty Enterprises appreciate their efforts. We put both guys, on a short notice, in the car. They were in a tough position, but they helped me out. That was good."(MCG Sports/Petty Racing PR)
