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NASCAR needs continued success from Petty

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Updated Jun 23, 2009 10:47 PM ET
     
 
The only thing stranger than seeing Richard Petty sipping wine in Victory Lane at Infineon Raceway Sunday was seeing Richard Petty in Victory Lane. Petty hadn't visited Victory Lane as a winner since April of 1999, when Petty Enterprises scored its last victory with John Andretti. As Petty Enterprises slipped into oblivion, wallowing in mediocrity and becoming an afterthought, many believed Petty, NASCAR's undisputed king, would never win again. And he probably wouldn't have had he continued to prop up Petty Enterprises, using his valuable name to piece together just enough funding to keep the floundering organization afloat. But Petty Enterprises died a slow death, with Petty finally pulling the plug and putting it out of its misery late last year. For NASCAR, the end of Petty Enterprises was like losing the family patriarch, or a dear, old friend. It was a sad, sad day, but one you knew was coming, and in the end, everyone was a bit relieved because the struggling and suffering was finally over. The fear, though, was that Petty himself, one of the most important figures in NASCAR history, might also fade away.

But Petty moved on to greener pastures, throwing his name and marketing prowess behind the Sprint Cup organization George Gillett bought from Ray Evernham. And Gillett, the majority owner, made a wise move, renaming the team Richard Petty Motorsports. Suddenly, The King was back as part of a competitive operation again, and the move gave him something he desperately needed — hope. And it gave the sport and its fans hope that it might one day see The King back in victory lane. That happened with Kasey Kahne's victory in Sonoma, Calif., Sunday, and it was a glorious occasion, one fit for a king.

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Kahne's win was one of the most popular victories this season and not because it was Kahne (though he is quite popular, too) that delivered it, but because he brought The King back to his rightful place — basking in the glory of a Victory Lane celebration. NASCAR needs Richard Petty in the spotlight. It needs him front and center and in the thick of things. After all these years, Petty is still the most recognizable name in American auto racing and arguably the most significant figure in NASCAR history. Aside from the France family, which founded the sport, there is no one bigger. It is Petty who helped make the sport popular and taught decades of drivers how to build and service a huge fan base. At 72, Petty is still the face of stock-car racing, the name and image that even the most casual fans worldwide associate most with the sport. Though Petty brought very little capital to the Gillett Evernham organization, he brought a wealth of knowledge and experience, not to mention the attention and exposure that his name and image offer potential backers. He has become the figurehead of the organization, attending every race, encouraging the drivers and offering whatever advice and feedback he can. And when one of the four teams win, he is there in Victory Lane, wearing his trademark cowboy hat and sunglasses, flashing his famous wide grin and attracting attention and exposure. Seeing Petty, one of the greatest role models in sport's history, in such a setting makes people happy. He is one of those rare competitors and celebrities who are so good, so friendly and so wholesome that you can't help but pull for him. When he wins, everyone wins. And that makes Richard Petty Motorsports one of the sport's most important organizations and drivers such as Kahne one of its most important stars. NASCAR needs Petty and Kahne to win, just as it needs Dale Earnhardt Jr. to win. Kahne, like Petty and like Junior, has a big following, especially among female fans. If he is a contender, more people are watching. If Richard Petty Motorsports and Kahne, its marquee driver, are a consistent threat, challenging the elite drivers and teams in the sport, then more fans — especially those core fans NASCAR is so desperately trying to maintain — are going to be excited and intrigued by the action on the track. Sunday's victory was also a big one for Kahne. He has had an up-and-down career the past few years, winning six races in 2006 and then none in 2007. He won twice last season, but failed to make the Chase for the second straight year. With 10 career wins, he obviously has the talent to be a big winner, and he likely will be. The question is where? His contract with Gillett and Petty runs through next season, and he is expected to be one of the sport's top free agents. Kahne has said he would like to stay with the organization where he started his Cup career, but it depends on his team's performance. Sunday's surprising win on a road course is a good sign. If RPM can continue to put a winning car under Kahne, he is likely to stay, giving the organization two valuable assets — Petty and an elite driver. And that should mean a few more trips to Victory Lane.

Jeff Owens is a writer for NASCAR Scene, which is published weekly, 46 weeks per year. Visit www.scenedaily.com for more information.

Tagged: Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kasey Kahne

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