Petty Heads “ Home ” To Martinsville
Two Racing Icons Are Inextricably Linked

This weekend, Kyle Petty and the #45 Wells Fargo Dodge team will head to the .526-mile, paper clip-shaped Martinsville (Va.) Speedway for Sunday's Subway 500. 

The names Petty and Martinsville have long had there place stamped in the annals of racing lore.  Although travel between the two racing giants in intrastate, the distance is just over 70 miles.  It should come as no surprise that Petty Enterprises has a spectacular record at the Virginia foothills track.

Petty will be making his 51st start at Martinsville this weekend.  Petty has five top-five's, 14 top-10's and one pole at the track where his father and grandfather both own multiple victories.  He finished 14 th in the 2005 Subway 500. 

Comments from Petty as he prepares for Sunday's Subway 500:

You have seen NASCAR go from legendary short tracks, like Martinsville , to huge speedways across the country.  What are your feelings to come back here?

“ Martinsville holds a special place in not only my heart, but many others at Petty Enterprises.  We really consider this our home track.  I can't remember the last time I missed a race in Martinsville .  I've been coming here a lot of years.  We have a lot of friends and fans that come up here.  That always makes it a special race.”

“It really is grass-roots racing.  There is not an aero package for Martinsville .  We race around here just like my Grandfather, father, and some of those guys used to.  I've seem guys trade paint, rub fenders, and all tempers flare.  It seems like fans and drivers have a blast.  There aren't many drivers that don't like to come here.  This is what we grew up on and where NASCAR started.”

The addition of Billy Wilburn has seemed like a shot in the arm to this team, especially in qualifying.  He has a great track record here and you also have a pole here.  Does that give you momentum coming into Martinsville ?

“We have been qualifying better and that always helps out a race weekend.  Now we just need to get some solid finishes for this Wells Fargo Dodge.  This is a great track to do that.  Billy has had success here with a couple of different drivers and I had a good run in this race a year ago.”

“A premium is placed on qualifying here because track position is so important.  We are excited about that part of our program.  If we can get a good spot on Friday I think we will be in position for a great weekend.”

Petty Enterprises seems to be finishing the season on a strong note.  Was that a point of emphasis?

“Absolutely.  We feel that we have made huge strides as the season has progressed.  Robbie Loomis has made sure that nobody began making early vacation plans.  Everyone in the shop has remained very focused.”

“We had our last test of the season this week at Homestead .  We are taking that test very seriously as that will help us go into the off-season.  We need to keep working to make our entire program better- for everyone. Bobby (Labonte) has been stout here recently so I am not counting out a visit to victory lane for Petty Enterprises before the end of the season.  I think we can make some noise this weekend too with our Wells Fargo Dodge.”