Kyle Petty
He's been called
racing's renaissance man; a romantic; one who beats to a different drummer;
even a Yanni look alike. But as one of racing's most promising drivers,
No. 44 Hot Wheels Pontiac Winston Cup series driver Kyle Petty is best known
to his fans as the "prince" who is destined for greatness in the sport of
racing. The young Petty received his parent's nod for a first-ever superspeedway competition in February 1979 during the ARCA 200 at Daytona International Speedway. As if it were no big deal; as if it were pre-ordained that he would someday enjoy the same success his father knew--Petty handily won the event.
Five months later Richard Petty mailed to NASCAR an entry form for a second Petty Enterprises Winston Cup debut at the Talladega Superspeedway's Talladega 500. Kyle Petty, 19, finished in the top 10 that day.
Kyle received four more Winston Cup starts in 1979 and in 1980, 14 in a Petty Enterprises car and 1 in a Rahmoc Racing car. In 1981, Petty Enterprises gave Kyle a chance to run a full 31-race schedule. The stint at his father's Level Cross, NC racing operation would last until the end of the 1984 season.
In 1989, Kyle began a new chapter in his racing career by teaming up with Felix Sabates and Team SABCO. Petty helped Sabates ease into NASCAR's demanding premier season where the driver competed in just 19 Winston Cup events. The next year, Petty delivered to Sabates what the owner knew his driver could accomplish all along--his first ever pole and a trip to Victory Lane while running a full 29-event schedule. Petty went on dominate at tracks like North Carolina Motor Speedway (three victories and five poles over three consecutive seasons), Pocono, Watkins Glen and Dover Downs for a total of eight poles and eight victories to date.
In 1997, Kyle entered into a partnership with his father, Richard Petty, to form pe2, a Winston Cup team fielding the #44 Hot Wheels Pontiac Grand Prix. He finished 15th in the Winston Cup Point Standings, the highest finishing new team for 1997, with an average of 19th. Kyle has rejoined Petty Enterprises for the 1999 season and moved back to the PE compound in Level Cross, NC. Even with all his success thus far, there is no doubt that Petty's best years are still in front of him.
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