Richard Responds to Kyle

muggle not

muggle not

Team Owner
Joined
Jun 21, 2003
Messages
10,251
Points
1,033
From Daytona to California, Dustin Long covers the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.
Richard Petty responds to Kyle Petty's comments and other notes

Feb 09
3:31 PM

The other day at Daytona, Kyle Petty expressed his anger and disappointment with what happened to Petty Enterprises. He also said he was "crushed'' with the newly renamed Richard Petty Motorsports using a paint scheme on one its cars that was just like Kyle's paint scheme on the ARCA car that he won at Daytona with in 1979 in his debut.

I asked Richard, who was on a conference call with reporters Tuesday afternoon, if he was awrare of those comments, if he had talked to Kyle and what he would tell Kyle if he needed to say anything. Here's what Richard said:

It kind of upset him because that’s where he started. He started with the 44 car at Daytona and was lucky enough to win the race. When we did our deal with Boston Ventures, we never had a place for Kyle at Petty Enterprises. He sort of got out of the loop. When he got out of the loop, he’s been doing his own thing…he run the 24 (Rolex 24) and doing some TV.

I’ve not seen him since Christmas. He’s been so busy, I’ve been so busy. He got snow-bound in Pittsburgh for a few days one time; we just really never have gotten together. I’ve really not talked to him. I spoke to him a couple of times on the phone; you can’t get much done on the phone. He talked to his mother. He was really crushed that we didn’t include him in that part of it, and I can understand that. We were so busy trying to get our end of the deal done and make it work with a new team that it fell through the crack and I’m sorry that it did.
 
Yeah, that whole deal has me bummed somehow. Not a pretty picture and all and a sad chapter in the Petty Saga. Hoping all goes well for all those concerned here.
 
MRM said:
It sounds like Richard finally told him he's no longer competitive and Kyle got mad and has skipped out. That's a shame.
Click to expand...
I don't know about that, but it sounds more like to me that Kyle has put more of his time towards Victory Junction and that might have put him out of the loop. But it is a sad ending to a very storied organization.
 
I don't think Kyle has ever had the drive to be a Champion Driver, Remember way back when Richard asked "Are you going to sing or drive?" The answer lies somewhere in between a mixture all of our posts.
 
Just sad all the way around. But the Petty story has been filled with that. It was when Kyle left to go to of all places, the Wood Brothers. That was a hard hit for fans of Level Cross........ after all those Petty/Pearson battles. It was sadder when Richard left. That left Maurice as the sole face of Petty Ent., It was sad when Richard returned, but the magic was gone, and fans had to watch a legend struggle to make races and be left to 8 years without a win...... It was what happened to Adam. I think he had loads of talent, and that old Petty charisma..... we will just never know if he could have, or would have restored Petty Ent, or if Hendrick or someone would have snatched him up.
as for this story, it is equally sad....... it's sad that the 43 is now red.... ( Remember it was Richard who turned down somethin like 100 grand from Andy Granitelli to paint the car STP red back in the day.) It is sad there is no room for Kyle.... It is sad he feels slighted. but,
The only way Petty COULD still be in the sport was the merger...... the only way the team could remain intact was the merger. Things had to be done. It's progress. I sure don't like it, as alot of others, but is was required. Richard is a businessman first. I think he knew and understood this. So much like his retirement in 92, it is sad, but it had to happen. I will say this though. The couple of times they showed Richard, he looked much better than he has in years. He was relaxed and smilin again....... I can deal with a red 43, if Richard is happy and enjoyin himself.
 
I need to amend my earlier comments. It sounds like the Boston Ventures people told Kyle to hit the road and Richard didn't back up Kyle on it. Now Kyle is peeved at BV and Richard.
 
It is sad that there's a fall-out between Kyle and Richard, but I have to say I appreciate Kyle far more as a race commentator than as a driver.
 
WNY24Fan said:
It is sad that there's a fall-out between Kyle and Richard, but I have to say I appreciate Kyle far more as a race commentator than as a driver.
Click to expand...


Ditto.


I never took Kyle as being as fully involved in racing like his dad and that's okay, he is what he is, which is far more entertaining to listen to than Richard. That's why I don't get him feeling slighted that he was left out. He after all was very candid about his inability to (or want to) live up to daddy's expectations.
 
MRM said:
I need to amend my earlier comments. It sounds like the Boston Ventures people told Kyle to hit the road and Richard didn't back up Kyle on it. Now Kyle is peeved at BV and Richard.
Click to expand...

From what I've read, Richard sold his corporation to venture capitalists and has no say in the operation; his only role being that of a spokesman.

The Pettys are a close and strong family. And if there is a disagreement between Richard and Kyle, it will soon be forgotten.
 
Whizzer said:
The Pettys are a close and strong family. And if there is a disagreement between Richard and Kyle, it will soon be forgotten.
Click to expand...
I agree with that statement. I think that Kyle just got caught up in his own world and forgot that he was no longer in control in the racing department.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom