| | | | | | ATLANTA HELPED | Kyle Petty more securely in top 35 after solid Atlanta race | |
| | By Rea White / SceneDaily.com HAMPTON, GA. -- Kyle Petty's late-season surge continued at Atlanta Motor Speedway, with the driver gaining needed ground in the standings.
Petty finished 13th in Sunday's Pep Boys Auto 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, a performance that not only showed his team's recent gains but also boost his gap on the team in 36th. While Petty remained 34th in the owners points, his No. 45 team now has a 168-point gap on the No. 21 Wood Brothers/JTG Racing team in 36th.
With the top 35 teams in owners points locked in to the field each week, and with only three races remaining this season, that gain was crucial.
His finish was his best since he was third at Lowe's Motor Speedway in May.
"That was a really good day for our guys," he said. "[Crew chief] Billy [Wilburn] and the guys on this team just put together a great effort. Our pit stops were good, and the car was just good all day. We didn't play too much with it since the beginning. We kept up with the track and I think we just avoided everything at the end.
"We led a lap and finished in the top 15. That's big for Petty Enterprises and all our sponsors."
He also gained ground on Dave Blaney's Bill Davis Racing team that sits in 35th. The team's Toyota had water in its fuel, sidelining Blaney and forcing him to finish 38th. Blaney's team now trails Petty by 86 in the owners points and is 82 in front of the No. 21.
| | Posted October 30, 2007 , 3:21 pm EST
Last Updated October 30, 2007 , 3:22 pm EST | | | | | | | | | | |
