Petty brings home best finish since Dover in 1997

CONCORD, N.C. -- Kyle Petty felt the need to make a house call prior to the start of the Coca-Cola 600 Sunday at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

He wanted to cheer up an old friend who has recently fallen on hard times in the racing world.

Petty surprises fans with ride-along offer

Cup driver Kyle Petty shocked fans at Lowe's Motor Speedway when he went around the campsite and randomly selected people to ride with him around the 1.5-mile track.

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"It's funny. I went and saw Michael Waltrip before the race started," Petty said. "I think everybody knows what those guys are going through [at Michael Waltrip Racing]. We went through the same thing at Petty Enterprises; I went through the same thing at Petty Enterprises, missing races. And I told him, 'You didn't forget how to drive a racecar. Michael Waltrip has not forgotten how to drive a racecar.'"

Apparently, neither has Kyle Petty.

After giving his pep talk to Waltrip, who crashed during qualifying and sat out his 11th consecutive Nextel Cup race, Petty parlayed a strong racecar and a fuel-mileage gamble at the end into an impressive third-place finish in the grueling Coca-Cola 600. It was Petty's best Cup finish -- he also placed third at Dover -- since the fall of 1997.

That was more than 300 starts ago for Petty.

"I think for me to come out here tonight, I showed a few people I didn't forget how to drive a racecar," Petty said shortly after stepping out of his No. 45 Dodge on pit road after the race. "But we've got a great team. That's what it's all about. I'm just one piece in this cog here."

Of course, Kyle's father Richard, who owns a record 200 career Cup victories, wanted just a little bit more.

"If he had run a little harder, we could have finished a little better," said Richard Petty, grinning. "He got a lap behind because they stayed out too long the first time on these tires, hoping for a caution that didn't come. Then he had to work really hard to get it back. Once he got it back, he was a top eight or top 10 car, no trouble."

It became a top five car when many of the cars running ahead of him had to pit for gas during the final 10 laps. The younger Petty knew he was cutting it close, but crew chief Billy Wilburn wasn't about to give up track position at the end. (Continued)