Petty Saying ‘Thanks’ For Support
2006 Partners Featured on ‘45’ Dodge at Homestead

This weekend, Kyle Petty and the #45 Petty Enterprises Dodge team head to the 1.5-mile Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway for Sunday’s Miami 400. It is the last race of the 2006 NASCAR Nextel Cup season. The team heads into Homestead sitting 35th in NASCAR Nextel Cup owner points. Pettys’ ‘45’ Dodge is 47 points ahead of the ‘14’ machine owned by Bobby Ginn and driven by Sterling Marlin.

In appreciation of all primary sponsorships partners on the #45 Petty Enterprises Dodge this season the car will feature primary sponsorship logos of Marathon American Spirit Motor Oil, Wells Fargo, Tire Kingdom and Schwan’s at Homestead.

Petty has finished 25th or better since Billy Wilburn took over the reigns of crew chief in Loudon (race 27). Petty has finished 25th or higher in the last five races of the season. This stretch helped the team climb back into the top 35 in owner points heading into Homestead.

Comments from Petty as he prepares for Sunday’s season finale:

What does it mean to have a strong finish to the season?
“It means a lot. You can carry that momentum into next season. I think you look at a guy like Greg Biffle a few season’s ago. That team got hot right at the end of the season and carried it over into the following season. He was the hottest guy in the first-half of the season that year. We want to be that team going into 2007.

“We want to carry our momentum into the winter. We have a lot of work to do this winter. The Car of Tomorrow and other changes in the sport are going to keep us busy at the shop. There really isn’t an off-season, but just a time when we’re not at the track racing. We are still working, and it’s nice to feel good because you ran so well at the end of the season to get ready for the next year. That’s kind of where we are at right now. We are feeling good, but still have work to do. It’s just giving us momentum to work harder and be even better prepared for Daytona in February.”

Being involved in your own point’s battle does it make you appreciate the ‘chase’ drivers and what they have to go through?
“I’ve been there before. I’ve been there going into the last race of the season batting three or four guys for the championship (1992 championship battle). I know what it’s like, and it’s a lot of pressure on these five guys right now. I think we all want to be in that position, but these guys have all the pressure you can imagine. They are feeling it, but that’s what this is all about. You want to be in the position they are in.

“The ‘chase’ has made it possible for this to happen every season. This is what it’s going to be like every season if NASCAR keeps with this general system. It looks like things are going to change, but I still think you are going to see five or six guys going to Homestead every year with a chance to win the championship. I think that’s what NASCAR wants to have.

“For us, we are in our own battle for that last position for 35th in owner points. I can’t give enough credit for what this team has done over the last month for us to not only get back into the 35th position, but now we’ve got a little cushion. We still have to race hard this weekend, but we’ve done a good job with Billy Wilburn coming in. We’ve made a lot of progress with both teams.”

What’s it like to have all season’s primary partners on the car this weekend?
“It’s pretty neat to see that. Wells Fargo has continued to be a great partner of us this year. They have been great to work with and we have a lot of fun with them. It has been the same for Marathon, Tire Kingdom and Schwan’s too. They all came on board with us this year and it’s been great. We think this is a great chance to just say ‘thanks’ to all of our partners.

“This has really been our first season working with multiple primary sponsors, but it has been great for us. Marathon might want to have some races to promote while maybe Tire Kingdom, Schwan’s or Wells Fargo wants some other races. That’s what makes it all works. We couldn’t do it without all their support. It makes us feel good to work with great companies like them. We are looking forward to the future with everyone. This is just a way for us to show our appreciation.”