Yet in the ensuing months, economic reality intervened. A recession hit. Sponsorship dried up. And so began the long tumble toward Thursday, when Petty Enterprises announced that it is negotiating with Gillett-Evernham Motorsports to field its flagship No. 43 car, and Labonte announced that he had been released from all ties to the organization. It's another step toward the end of Petty Enterprises as the sport has always known it, the team that family patriarch Lee Petty founded in 1949.
"In over 15 years of racing in the Sprint Cup Series, I can't remember a time when the sport's landscape looks as it does today," Labonte said in a statement. "Saying that, Petty Enterprises and I had serious and very sincere discussions about what was best for myself and everyone involved at Petty Enterprises moving forward. These discussions culminated with us agreeing that moving in a separate direction will be the greatest way to reach our end goals. It was by no means an easy decision."
I for one, though I am new to the sport will miss Petty and their presence. It is the likes of Kyle Petty and his devotion to Victory Junction Camp that showed me there was more to these guys than 'go fast, turn left'. We will miss you all. Mr. Labonte, may you find a great ride.Meanwhile, Petty Enterprises said it is in "exclusive" negotiations with GEM, which fields three Sprint Cup entries, about a transaction that would essentially involve the Gillett organization absorbing Petty's No. 43 car, which has been without primary sponsorship since General Mills announced last year its intentions to move to Richard Childress Racing for 2009. A deal with GEM would theoretically secure a place in the sport's future for the No. 43 car and owner Richard Petty, who drove it to seven championships.
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