Banquet 400 presented by ConAgra Foods - Kyle Petty Notes

Kyle Petty Notes, Quotes: Banquet 400
The importance of Kansas Speedway

Kyle Petty and the #45 Georgia-Pacific/Brawny Dodge team head to the 1.5-mile Kansas Speedway, just outside of Kansas City, Mo., this week for Sunday’s Banquet 400 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series race.

Petty, 44, will be making his 706th career start this weekend. He is 10th on the all-time list in NASCAR Cup career starts, and fourth among active drivers. His eight career victories place him 45th on NASCAR’s all-time list in Cup wins. One of the most recognizable names in international motorsports, as is his sponsor, Georgia-Pacific, Petty’s driving career began with a five-race season in 1979. The native of Level Cross, N.C., has won over $19 million.

The thoughts of Georgia-Pacific/Brawny Dodge driver Kyle Petty heading into Kansas:

“There is a really strong sports tradition in Kansas City, and I’m glad NASCAR is part of that.

“When I was growing up, the Kansas City Chiefs were the be-all and end-all as far as the NFL was concerned. I guess they are struggling a little bit this season but, by and large, they have usually been a power. But the thing that really grabs your attention is the fan following. People love the Chiefs in Kansas City, and that’s the kind of passion I think our fans bring to an area.

“Sure, we’re only in the area one time a year, while the Chiefs have eight games plus exhibition games plus a playoff game or two most years. But we still have that passionate following at the track in October, and at least on television the rest of the season.

“There are a lot of race fans around Kansas City. These aren’t the type of fans who just show up one weekend a year and then find a good place on the couch the rest of the year either. Besides watching the Cup races, they populate all of those weekly tracks around there. . . dirt, asphalt, late model stocks, sprints . . . they love ‘em all. Racing is racing, and they love it.

“Kansas is one place we’ve brought the series in the past few years that didn’t need a jolt. These people were excited when they started turning dirt, excited when the track was completed, excited when tickets went on sale, and they are excited everytime they open the gates. The crowds are great for the Cup and IRL races but they are great for the ARCA and Truck races too.

“It’s important for us to be in places like Kansas City. It’s important for us to run this race track. Do they deserve two races? Sure. They bring in great crowds, the fans are fantastic and it’s a great area. Of course, there is a difference in deserving two and getting two, mainly because so many other factors are involved. But if they told me, ‘Hey, next year, two races at Kansas,’ I’d be more than fine with that. It’s a good place to be.

“Fans in this area are pretty well confined as to where they can see races. If you live in Kansas City, you have one race at Kansas, and then you have to travel to Texas. Or if you are willing to go a little further, Chicagoland or Talladega. But those are some pretty good hauls. It’s not like it used to be for a guy living in Randleman (N.C.), where he had his choice of two races at Rockingham or Charlotte or Darlington or Martinsville or Bristol, or even Richmond and Atlanta.

“This sport has grown tremendously the past 10 years or so. We have really boomed in a lot of ways. The race this weekend is a great example of that. When we are able to move these races into new markets, especially big markets like Kansas City, we’re moving them into a lot of people’s backyards. And we’re moving into those backyards in a big way.

“We need these new markets. We need to be running in places like Kansas City and Chicago. Bring the races in, and the interest really grows. And as the interest grows, local and area media responds. And when that media responds, it generates even bigger interest.

“A lot of fans are still ‘discovering’ NASCAR Nextel Cup racing. There are a lot of new fans sitting out there - fans for Georgia-Pacific, for Petty Enterprises, for all of us. By running the Kansases of the world, we’re continuing to build our sport. That’s just good for everybody.”