 |
|||
|
Tune in for 2007 TV Schedule Race Previews & Results Additional Stories 10 Questions from Kyleerview with Mark n Chad McCumbee and John Andretti Named To Drive #45 Dodge
 Robbie Loomis
Feature guest on Loomis looms large for Petty team Inside the Halls of Petty: Welcome back Andretti 2007 NASCAR TV TNT Kyle Petty to serve as Race Analyst Petty Meets Key |
Sharp AQUOS 500 Schedule Qualifying Race Day Sunday, September 2 Check the SPEED Channel schedule (speedtv.com) for various programs on the race this weekend. |
|
|
Race Preview Petty Back Behind The Wheel “My doctors worked hard repairing the bone that was broken. I really wanted to race last weekend at Bristol, but it wasn’t a good idea. Bristol is a tough track on you physically. California is much easier on your body. “Chad (McCumbee) and Kenny (Wallace) did a great job for me while I healed. Everyone at Petty Enterprises appreciate their efforts. We put both guys, on a short notice, in the car. They were in a tough position, but they helped me out. That was good.” “Petty Enterprises, as an organization, our performance has been getting better over these last couple of weeks. We are getting into the end of the season. It’s pretty important for us to keep the momentum going. The teams are getting better, but we still have work to do. “We have some pretty good tracks coming up, tracks that I really like. Dover, Talladega, Charlotte and places like that. That is going to help us. We are focused on staying in the top-35 in points, but really finishing the year strong. “California can be a good track for us. It is one of those tracks where you have to really hit the setup right. You do have a lot of room to race, a lot of room to find out where your car wants to run, but you still need to hit the setup. Billy (Wilburn, crew chief) and the entire Wells Fargo team have brought some great downforce cars to these tracks this year. Our cars have been getting better and we’re working hard to get them better. “Coil-binding the front springs is still the hot thing to do at these tracks. We have been working hard in that department. It is not an easy thing to do. Believe me. For some of us it is a hard concept to wrap our heads around. It is just like the first time everyone started adjusting the flow of the shock absorbers as a way to improve front end geometry. Now, you wouldn’t think of showing up at a track without several different sets of shocks to try. It just takes time, but we are making progress. I like the direction we are headed in.” |
|||
|
Race Results 1. Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet OVERVIEW: Johnson took command once the sun set during the twilight event and led 84 laps in Sunday’s 250-lap race. Johnson beat Carl Edwards who passed Kyle Busch in the closing laps for the second position. Jeff Burton and Dale Earnhardt Jr. completed the top five. The high heat was the story of the weekend. Temperatures were above the century mark all weekend as teams and drivers battled to stay cool and hydrated. Luckily the event was run as the sun was setting and concluded at night. Bobby Labonte and the #43 Cheerios/Totino’s Pizza Rolls Dodge team have three consecutive finishes of ninth, eighth and now 11th after Sunday’s California 500. It was the team’s best “come from behind” finishes of the season. Although Labonte started the race 11th, he faded in the early after fighting handling issues. The car came to Labonte once the sun set and he completed a comeback after restarting from the rear of the field after major adjustments. Labonte led a part of Sunday’s race before making his final pit stop. He then raced back to 11th and barely missed the top-10 with a battle with Kasey Kahne. Labonte remains in the 17th position in points, but is closing quickly on the top 15. “It was a good run,” said Labonte. “We got tight at the end behind Kasey. We haven’t had this car to the wind tunnel with this nose on it. That is something we struggled with all weekend, but Doug (crew chief, Randolph) made some great calls. The car was a lot better once the sun went down.” Kyle Petty was back behind the #45 for Sunday’s California 500. Petty started the evening in the 39th position and battled with handling early in the race. Crew Chief Billy Wilburn made air pressure adjustments and Petty became comfortable with the car. Petty went several pit stops with no changes and made a climb through the field. Petty finished the evening with a 28th place finish. The team is now up one spot to 33rd in owner points as they are stronger with Petty behind the wheel. “The track changed a lot,” said Petty. “We didn’t have to make huge adjustments to it. It was pretty balanced most of the race. The track position hurt us a little bit. We were inside the top 25 for a little bit, but it’s tough to get a good handle when you are in the dirty air. It wasn’t bad. We gained in owner points and that’s important. It felt good to be back with the guys.” Petty Enterprises and the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series head to the .075-mile Richmond (Va.) International Raceway for Saturday night’s Richmond 400. The race will be televised live on ESPN and broadcast live on MRN Radio. Last update Kyle Petty name and/or likeness used under license by Petty Marketing Company, L.L.C. |
