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Thirty years ago, no one involved in stock car racing neither imagined nor predicted the demise of Petty Enterprises. Lee Petty built the ship that has sailed ever since the beginning of NASCAR.Lee Petty won three championships and was arguably the first true superstar of NASCAR. His son Richard came along and inscribed his name all over the NASCAR record books.Countless records set by Richard Petty, widely known as ‘The King’, may never be broken.

Richard Petty won 200 races and seven championships, and that is not even scratching the surface of all that he has accomplished as a driver and owner. Other than a couple of years in the mid-1980’s, Richard Petty’s entire career was spent with the organization his father built. Petty Enterprises’ ascendancy from the early 1950’s to the late 1970’s may have been even greater than Hendrick Motorsports’ and Roush Fenway Racing’s in the 2000’s.

Third generation driver Kyle Petty emerged in the late 1970’s, as the teenager made his first Cup start on NASCAR’slongest and what was then the fastest facility, Talladega. However, unlike his father and grandfather, Kyle won his first race while driving for someone other than Petty Enterprises. His first win occurred nearly eight years following his debut, and it was at Richmond with the Wood Brothers, a team that gave the Petty’s fits throughout the 1960’s and 1970’s.

Following his four-year tenure with the Wood Brothers, Kyle Petty joined the Felix Sabates-owned operation in 1988, which is where he enjoyed most of his success. In fact, six of Kyle’s eight career wins occurred while driving for Felix Sabates. Petty left Sabates following the 1996 season to return to the family business, and he has not won since. In fact, since Petty’s last win in 1984, which was for Mike Curb, the famed number ‘43’ car has three wins, two with Bobby Hamilton, Sr., and one with John Andretti.

In the late 1990’s, Kyle’s son Adam was developing into a fine young racer. Many in the garage began likening Adam to his grandfather. He was 100 percent dedicated to racing. Sadly, his life ended much too soon in a tragic accident while practicing for a Busch Series race in Loudon, New Hampshire in April of 2000. Nobody saw it at the time, but that was the beginning of the end for Petty Enterprises. Adam provided hope that a Petty would once again rise to the top.

Throughout the 2000’s, Petty Enterprises has fallen deeper and deeper in the pack. Just five years ago, Petty Enterprises had three teams, now they only have the ‘43’, and even that is not enough to attract full-time sponsorship.

In 2006, resurgence appeared inevitable for Petty Enterprises, as they signed 2000 champion Bobby Labonte, and rehired Robbie Loomis. However, Labonte has remained in mid-pack.

Petty Enterprises eventually relocated to a shop closer to the Charlotte area, abandoning their long-time home in Level Cross, North Carolina. In 2008, Boston Ventures, and investment firm, purchased controlling interest in Petty Enterprises with hopes of leading the storied organization back to the forefront. Instead, things have only worsened. Kyle Petty was basically kicked to the curb, and a sponsorship deal for the ‘45’ team fell through. That all led us to where we are today…the discussion on the Petty decline.

Ever since the 2008 season concluded at Homestead, the headlines are rarely pertaining to Jimmie Johnson’s third consecutive championship. It has been the potential merger between Gillett Evernham Motorsports and Petty Enterprises. The merger would allow the ‘43’ team to be absorbed by Gillett Evernham Motorsports. Meanwhile, the ‘45’ car would be phased out.

Even with the ‘43’ still on the track, it will not be same as when it was Richard’s car. It will be a jagged pill to swallow for hardcore Petty fans, as well as traditional fans that hold on to the good old days.

Who would drive the ‘43’ car? Petty Enterprises released veteran Bobby Labonte earlier in the week, so it will likely be an upstart driver such as Reed Sorenson or A.J. Allmendinger. While they are talented young drivers, they certainly have not earned the right to be in union with perhaps the most revered car number in NASCAR history.

Traditionalists were kicked while they were already down, as previously the Wood Brothers operation announced that they will only compete in twelve races in 2009.

The fall of former NASCAR empires is somewhat reminiscent to the 1990’s and early 2000’s when legendary car owners such as Junior Johnson, Bud Moore, and Junie Donlavey left the sport. Teams owned by Bobby Allison and Cale Yarborough could not survive the 1990’s.

Today, Petty Enterprises and the Wood Brothers have fallen on hard times. Poor economic conditions forced Dale Earnhardt, Inc. to merge with another team, and now identified as Earnhardt Ganassi Racing. Robert Yates Racing became Yates Racing in 2008, and seems to be under the Roush Fenway Racing umbrella. They have struggled to secure full-time sponsors since M&M’s left for Joe Gibbs Racing. While the name ‘Yates’ is still in the building, and the ‘28’ car is back, it just not feel the same as it did a decade ago.

Let us just hope that when the 43 hits the track in February of 2009, it is still dressed in Petty blue with the same recognizable number font.

Gentlemen, start your engines and ladies, grab your beach bag. It’s NASCAR time in Daytona Beach, Florida. 2006 is already wooing a track full of die-hard race car drivers and fans are pulling up trackside to get a glimpse of the action. Make sure you’re there in 2006 for non-stop excitement at every turn on the track!

The season begins with the forty-fourth Rolex 24 which kicks off the 2006 Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series on the weekend of January 26-29. Considered one of the most prestigious endurance races, the entry list features 73 entries which will exceed the 2005 entry list by eleven cars. Benny Parsons will act as the Grand Marshall for this event.

On February 11, 2006, the Budweiser Shootout will start their ‘run’ followed by the Daytona 500 Pole Qualifying run. The Shootout represents the beginning of Speed Week at Daytona, ending with the Daytona 500. On February 18, the Hershey’s Kissable kicks off the NASCAR Busch Series for 2006. In between are truck races and other events to keep every race fan in total bliss.

On February 19, Daytona Beach hosts the Daytona 500, one of the great American traditions in NASCAR racing. The race begins at 2 p.m. Eastern and runs for 500 laps on the world-famous track. Of course, all the big names will be entered in the race, including Jeff Gordon, Tony Steward and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. This year holds a special treat because Bill Elliot has come out of retirement to return for this race. Elliot left full-time racing in 2003, only running a few races in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series. Of course, Dale Jr. is a favorite in this race. His father, Dale Earnhardt, Sr. died in a freak accident during the Daytona 500 in the 2001 race.

Since its beginning in 1959, the Daytona 500 has been one of the most popular races ever held. The television ratings for this event indicate that it is one of the most-watched sports events, surpassing even the Super Bowl! As the first race of the Nextel Cup Series (in addition to being the first biggest race of the year), the fan’s race to obtain tickets is phenomenal.

The Daytona 500 is a direct offshoot of a race once held on the sands of Daytona Beach. After the 1959 opening of the Daytona International Speedway, the race as we know it continues to grow.

That very first Daytona 500 was won by Lee Petty, father of Richard Petty. The win was most interesting because Johnny Beauchamp was initially announced as the winner after both Petty and Beauchamp lapped Joe Weatherly on the final lap. Three days later, after reviewing photographs and video of the finish, the call was overthrown and Petty was announced as the official winner of that first Daytona 500. His son, Richard, has won the Daytona 500 seven times during his career and holds the record for the most wins for this particular racing event.

The qualifying for the Daytona 500 is unique in that teams must race their way into the field instead of taking qualifying laps. The first row is set through one round of qualifying that usually occurs one week in advance of the actual race. The remainder of the field is established by qualifying races of 150 miles. During 2004 and before, the qualifying races were 125 miles.

After the Daytona 500, Wisk Presents the Daytona 500 After-Party which includes a dinner buffet, complimentary soft drinks, a cash bar, live entertainment and much, much more. You must purchase advance tickets to attend this party. ConAgra hosts the Monday morning Champion’s Breakfast event which features car induction festivities, a buffet breakfast, and more. This event also requires advance purchase of a ticket. The Champion’s Breakfast marks the official end of Speed Week at Daytona.

Access to the Daytona International Speedway is simple and easy from the north and south via Interstate-95 which lies within two miles of the race track. Interstate-4 provides access from the west while U.S. Highway 1 provides a scenic drive from the north and south.

While visiting Daytona Beach, you’ll want to take a drive along the white sand beaches, one of the only remaining beaches in Florida that permit driving on the sand. These beautiful beaches extend for miles and provide a unique experience for anyone who has never had the joy of driving alongside the Atlantic Ocean. Just don’t leave your car parked on the sand too close to the water at low tide. Every week, cars must be towed onto shore when the high tide floods them.

During Speed Week, accommodations can be hard to find unless you have made reservations well in advance. Many race fans book reservations and purchase their race tickets a full year in advance. The ocean-front hotels, of course, fill up first as do those closest to the Speedway. For those who desire very affordable housing for the week, nearby towns offer plenty of accommodations within one-half hour’s drive from the track. Even Orlando with all its plush hotels is only forty-five minutes away on Interstate-4.

Camping is a popular solution to the accommodations problem during Speed Week. There are numerous campgrounds in the area within a few miles of the race track and the cost of renting a campsite for the week is very affordable. Because of Central Florida’s mild weather, camping poses a viable solution. The nights may require a few blankets, however, but most of the daytime temperatures are quite comfortable. Many of the hard-core race enthusiasts bring campers, vans and motor homes, purchasing infield tickets and parking for the entire week. Every evening, cookouts in the infield bring the smells of steaks, hot dogs and hamburgers to the air. Those gathered in the infield party with others from all over the country both day and night, having a thoroughly great time while enjoying the races.

If you have never been to a Daytona 500 to hear those famous words, “Gentlemen, start your engines”, you will never forget the experience. Not only will you enjoy the races, but the entire city of Daytona Beach will provide memories for years to come.

According to a multitude of fans and media members, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. encountered a travesty of a season while driving for Hendrick Motorsports in 2008. Apparently, he was supposed to jump into a Hendrick Motorsports prepared car and post Jimmie Johnson-like stats. When the 2008 season began last February at Daytona, Earnhardt, Jr. captured the Bud Shootout and one of the Gatorade 125 races, increasing his expectations even more.

As the season progressed, Earnhardt, Jr. enjoyed several solid showings throughout the first half of the year. He nearly won a number of races, most notably at Richmond in May when he was spun by Kyle Busch with just a handful of laps remaining. In fact, for the first quarter of the season, Earnhardt, Jr. was arguably the top performing Hendrick Motorsports driver despite the fact that he was shut out of victory lane.

The first win finally occurred at the 2-mile speedway in Brooklyn, Michigan. Earnhardt, Jr. ran among the top five and ten for most of the race, but it was superior fuel mileage that earned him his first and only victory of the season.

Earnhardt, Jr. spent most of the first half of the season among the top three in the Sprint Cup championship standings.

Following his victory at Michigan, Earnhardt, Jr.’s performance began to wane a little. He would only score one top ten finish in the preceding ten races; nevertheless, he still easily qualified for the ten raceChase for the Championship.

His championship pursuit was far from spectacular, as he scored only three top ten finishes in the final ten races and finished last among all twelve drivers in the Chase for the Championship in the standings. Certainly, it was not an ideal way to begin his career at Hendrick Motorsports; however, was it a disaster?

It seems as if Dale Earnhardt, Jr. has topped everyone’s list as the most disappointing driver of the 2008 Sprint Cup campaign. He could have done a lot worse.

Firstly, let us take a glimpse at some hard facts. Earnhardt, Jr. finished twelfth in the championship standings, better than Kurt Busch, Ryan Newman, Kasey Kahne, Bobby Labonte, Juan Pablo Montoya, Martin Truex, Jr., Jamie McMurray, and other familiar stars.

He scored ten top five finishes. Only six drivers in the entire Sprint Cup series scored more top five finishes. Under the traditional championship format, Earnhardt, Jr. would have placed seventh in the final standings, higher than Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, and Matt Kenseth.

He completed 98.6 percent of the laps he races, which is a personal career high. His average running position was 11.6, fourth among all drivers.

Most significantly, Earnhardt, Jr. won a race, something that Jeff Gordon, Kevin Harvick, Matt Kenseth, and twenty-two other full-time drivers could not accomplish.

A true measure of a driver’s performance is the driver ratings. Driver rating’s are an intricate formula consisting of wins, finishes, top fifteen finishes, average running position while on the lead lap, average speed under green flag conditions, fastest laps, most laps led, and lead lap finishes. Basically, the driver’s with the highest rating are the ones that are frequently running near the front of the pack.

Earnhardt, Jr. finished the season with a driver rating of 99.0, which was fourth among all Sprint Cup drivers. Only Carl Edwards, Jimmie Johnson, and Kyle Busch produced a better driver rating than Earnhardt, Jr, whose rating was higher than Jeff Gordon, Greg Biffle, Kevin Harvick, and Tony Stewart.

So fans, was Dale Earnhardt, Jr. really that awful?

He is the most popular driver in NASCAR, and that comes with monumental exposure. Additionally, he is the son of seven-time champion Dale Earnhardt, Sr, which that alone adds insurmountable pressure. Honestly, it does not matter how well Dale Earnhardt, Jr. performs, he will always fall short of expectations, because people expect his performance to match is popularity, which is utterly impossible. He is a victim of his own name and fame.

According to a multitude of fans and media members, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. encountered a travesty of a season while driving for Hendrick Motorsports in 2008. Apparently, he was supposed to jump into a Hendrick Motorsports prepared car and post Jimmie Johnson-like stats. When the 2008 season began last February at Daytona, Earnhardt, Jr. captured the Bud Shootout and one of the Gatorade 125 races, increasing his expectations even more.

As the season progressed, Earnhardt, Jr. enjoyed several solid showings throughout the first half of the year. He nearly won a number of races, most notably at Richmond in May when he was spun by Kyle Busch with just a handful of laps remaining. In fact, for the first quarter of the season, Earnhardt, Jr. was arguably the top performing Hendrick Motorsports driver despite the fact that he was shut out of victory lane.

The first win finally occurred at the 2-mile speedway in Brooklyn, Michigan. Earnhardt, Jr. ran among the top five and ten for most of the race, but it was superior fuel mileage that earned him his first and only victory of the season.

Earnhardt, Jr. spent most of the first half of the season among the top three in the Sprint Cup championship standings.

Following his victory at Michigan, Earnhardt, Jr.’s performance began to wane a little. He would only score one top ten finish in the preceding ten races; nevertheless, he still easily qualified for the ten raceChase for the Championship.

His championship pursuit was far from spectacular, as he scored only three top ten finishes in the final ten races and finished last among all twelve drivers in the Chase for the Championship in the standings. Certainly, it was not an ideal way to begin his career at Hendrick Motorsports; however, was it a disaster?

It seems as if Dale Earnhardt, Jr. has topped everyone’s list as the most disappointing driver of the 2008 Sprint Cup campaign. He could have done a lot worse.

Firstly, let us take a glimpse at some hard facts. Earnhardt, Jr. finished twelfth in the championship standings, better than Kurt Busch, Ryan Newman, Kasey Kahne, Bobby Labonte, Juan Pablo Montoya, Martin Truex, Jr., Jamie McMurray, and other familiar stars.

He scored ten top five finishes. Only six drivers in the entire Sprint Cup series scored more top five finishes. Under the traditional championship format, Earnhardt, Jr. would have placed seventh in the final standings, higher than Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, and Matt Kenseth.

He completed 98.6 percent of the laps he races, which is a personal career high. His average running position was 11.6, fourth among all drivers.

Most significantly, Earnhardt, Jr. won a race, something that Jeff Gordon, Kevin Harvick, Matt Kenseth, and twenty-two other full-time drivers could not accomplish.

A true measure of a driver’s performance is the driver ratings. Driver rating’s are an intricate formula consisting of wins, finishes, top fifteen finishes, average running position while on the lead lap, average speed under green flag conditions, fastest laps, most laps led, and lead lap finishes. Basically, the driver’s with the highest rating are the ones that are frequently running near the front of the pack.

Earnhardt, Jr. finished the season with a driver rating of 99.0, which was fourth among all Sprint Cup drivers. Only Carl Edwards, Jimmie Johnson, and Kyle Busch produced a better driver rating than Earnhardt, Jr, whose rating was higher than Jeff Gordon, Greg Biffle, Kevin Harvick, and Tony Stewart.

So fans, was Dale Earnhardt, Jr. really that awful?

He is the most popular driver in NASCAR, and that comes with monumental exposure. Additionally, he is the son of seven-time champion Dale Earnhardt, Sr, which that alone adds insurmountable pressure. Honestly, it does not matter how well Dale Earnhardt, Jr. performs, he will always fall short of expectations, because people expect his performance to match is popularity, which is utterly impossible. He is a victim of his own name and fame.