End Of A NASCAR Era

[Ron61]

Bill,

I am not blaming the teams or anyone but French and his monopoly for what has happened. And to be honest, NASCAR was always my 2nd choice for racing as I grew up on road racing. And belive me,I know how hard it is now in this day of mega bucks to get sponsors and keep any team together. As I said, I still enjoy the short track races because I feel the driver and car setup has more to do than with who can get out in front.
And I do remember the Petty/Pearson crash and the Yarborough/Allison fight alongside the track. We are even losing the short track Saturday night racers around here because of the economy. This is a small area and when they shut down the logging industry years ago they basically killed it. Now stores are closing on a weekly basis and they can soon advertise it as a ghost town.

Ron

[OL'BILL]

Thanks Ron, I appreciate your reply and understanding.I see where you live and have been to the lake a long time ago and it was beautiful,you are fortunate to live there.
Bill

[vettestr]

I too was a huge fan and have some great memories. In 1992 "The King" was retiring and every track was holding events for his last race. Hooters was my sponsor at the time for drag racing and sent me to Atlanta to see the race. Alan Kulwicki drove for Hooters and won the race/points at that event that was also Richards TRUE last race.

I was in the infield as Kyle petty was crashed but returned to run the final laps with his Dad. Kyle was black flagged for not being able to run the minimum speed but refused to leave the track. I heard the radio chatter going back n forth as the Officials asked, urged, threatened and then gave up getting Kyle off the track as his Dad ran his very last laps in NASCAR. Kyle did get to run laps as the King finished his. Alan K. won the race and then did his famous Polish Victory lap. What a memory and just one of many that week. Now I give any comp. tickets away as I do not agree with the imports in Nascar.

[Don]

Kyle Petty and the Petty family should also be recognized for their Charity work, especially after Adam was killed at New Hampshire Raceway,Victory Junction Gang

http://www.looktothestars.org/celebrity/1353-kyle-petty

" As the 2008 calendar year neared its conclusion, Petty Enterprises and Gillett Evernham Motorsports inched ever closer to completing a merger that would mean a new home for NASCAR's iconic No. 43 car, and spell the end for a standalone Petty operation that's been a part of the sport since its founding 60 years ago.

Petty Enterprises is expected to lay off the majority of the 39 employees remaining at its shop in Mooresville, N.C. "

[Ron61]

Bill,

I have lived all over the country and in nearly every major area of California, but I do like it up here the best. We are just on the fringe of being high enough to have snow and do have some very cold weather, but the mountains and not so many people make it nice. The lake is a big mud puddle right now as it is the lowest it has been since they filled it and we aren't getting any rain at all this year again. They have shut off many areas as they don't want boats hitting rocks and stuff that is just barely covered right now.
When will you be leaving to go to Daytona? I know they said something about cutting back on speed week but never heard the whole report.

Ron

[OL'BILL]

Yes,they are done,now part of the Gillett Motorsports operation that absorbed Evernham and Petty.Ray Evernham is making preparations to open East Lincoln Speedway,a dirt track about 30 miles from Charlotte.
OB