Samsung/Radio Shack 500 - Kyle Petty Notes

Kyle Petty Notes, Quotes: Samsung/Radio Shack 500
‘Fast. That’s the first thought about Texas’

Kyle Petty and the #45 Georgia-Pacific/Brawny Dodge team head to the ultra-fast 1.5-mile Texas Motor Speedway this week for Sunday’s Samsung/Radio Shack 500 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series race.

Petty, 43, will be making his 685th 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 $18 million.

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

“Fast. That’s the first thought you have about Texas. It’s fast.

“Atlanta is a little bit faster but, since Texas is a little bit shorter, speed becomes pretty relative. The difference between the two, at least sitting in the race car, is next to nothing. Speed is what racing is all about but you have to go into Texas knowing how fast the place can be. Things just happen faster at a Texas or Atlanta, and if you are prepared for that, it’s not as big a deal.

“A track that fast calls for a lot of horsepower. And it has to be reliable horsepower. The strongest engine out there isn’t going to mean much if it doesn’t last for 500 miles. The most reliable engine out there isn’t going to mean much if it doesn’t give you enough horsepower to compete. That puts a lot of pressure on the engine guys. There is a fine line there somewhere and they are always trying to hit it. An engine that is incredibly strong and powerful and lasts 501 miles is just about perfect. That’s engine-builder ‘nirvana’ but it’s pretty rare you obtain that.

“A ton of horsepower is big but you still need a good chassis combination and a good aero package. You can’t let up on those two and figure horsepower is going to carry you through everything because that’s just not going to happen. You have to handle well in the turns, so the chassis is key there. And you have to be able to use the horsepower efficiently on the straightaways, so the aero package is pretty crucial. This might sound pretty obvious but there are tracks where you concentrate on one area more than another. Texas isn’t always like that. You pretty much have to have a complete package – engine, chassis and aero – to work well at Texas.

“It can be a tough place to pass but it doesn’t always have to be. There is enough room to pass, which helps a lot, and a second groove tends to open up. You can use the air (in the draft) to unsettle the car in front of you some and use that to get around him, but there are a couple of tricks you can use with the air to keep from being passed too. That helps make for a pretty good race.

“I think the new rules package will help the racing at Texas. A little more grip in the turns is always good, and it gives you some new ways to get around the place. Maybe another line or two will open up. If it does, that will make things even more interesting than usual there.

“Drafting is important but it’s not everything like at, say, Daytona and Talladega. You have to work the draft and work it well to be successful, but it doesn’t necessarily destroy your chances if you get in the wrong line or behind the wrong car or something along those lines. In the plate races, getting out of line can cost you 20 spots easily. At Texas, getting out of line can cost you some spots but you still have a chance of saving yourself too. That means drivers are more apt to take a chance on trying to pass, which leads to more passing. I think it will be a really good race.

“This Georgia-Pacific/Brawny Dodge team is ready to go. We’re excited about getting to Texas and seeing what we can do. We feel we’re going to have a good weekend.”