John
Andretti will once again be behind the wheel of the
famed #43 in 2002. |
For Petty Enterprises, the 2002 Winston Cup racing campaign presents a season of hope. More than a year removed from the dreadful tragedy that claimed Adam Petty, the organization is focused and committed to resurrecting a name synonymous with winning. Adding a new engine supplier and general manager for 2002 are steps in the right direction.
Near the close of the 2001 racing season, Petty Enterprises announced a deal that would place legitimate power under the hood of their Dodge Intrepid stable. In an ingenious move, Robert Yates Engine Manufacturing (RYEM) was acquired by Mike Ege, RYEM's General Manager and Chief Engine Builder. The company was reborn as Mike Ege Racing Engines (MERE) and beginning in 2002, MERE will supply engines exclusively to Petty Enterprises for the #43 Cheerios Dodge, the #44 Georgia-Pacific Dodge, and the #45 Sprint Dodge.
"We are aligning our teams with an engine builder with a proven track record of success. With experience in the Penske organization and most recently with Robert Yates Engine Manufacturing, Mike Ege, Steve Allen and their team have demonstrated the ability to build engines to win races and poles" said Kyle Petty, CEO of Petty Enterprises. "This move will allow us to concentrate on what Petty Enterprises knows best - the race cars. This is part of our overall plan to take this race team back to the front."
While the problem of much needed power was seemingly an easy fix with the Yates, I mean Ege powered engines, the puzzle was still not complete. But that may have changed this week as Petty Enterprises added another quality piece to help complete the Winston Cup championship puzzle. The keystone to that puzzle just may be Robin Pemberton, announced as Vice President and General Manager for Petty Enterprises.
"Bringing Robin to our race teams is another important move in taking Petty Enterprises to where we want it to be," said Kyle Petty in making the announcement. "One of the winningest crew chiefs in Winston Cup history joining one of the best engine builders with Mike Ege and bringing them together with all three of our race teams under one roof, we think these moves are going to be big for us."
Robin
Pemberton rejoins Petty Enterprises as VP and General
Manager. |
Pemberton, whose career began at Petty Enterprises and has served with some of the top names in motorsports as a crew chief - Kyle Petty, Mark Martin, Bobby Allison, Neil Bonnett and, most recently, Rusty Wallace - has 499 career starts and winnings of nearly $25 million. Both are second in NASCAR's modern era.
Pemberton was pleased to be associated with the Petty camp again, "I believe any crew chief will tell you - give me good drivers and a good engine, and I can beat a lot of people. Those three drivers, along with the engines Mike Ege puts together, and the leadership Kyle and Richard both offer, hey, this is a great situation for not just me but for everybody here," Pemberton said.
"I like being a winner, and Petty Enterprises is that kind of organization, I'm really excited about the opportunity to work with Kyle again, as a driver and as the guy in charge of the business. I've seen what John Andretti has done and the potential Buckshot Jones has", Pemberton added, "I started my career here at Petty Enterprises, and now I have the opportunity to be a part of it continuing its resurgence. This is a great race team and where I want to be for the rest of my career."
And no matter whom NASCAR fans are rooting for, you can bet that most of them will be cheering on the legendary Petty name in 2002.
The author can be contacted nascar@autoracing1.com
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