Petty Enterprises To Relocate Nextel Cup Operation
They have reached a multi-year lease agreement for shop space located in the city of Mooresville. The space was formerly occupied by Robert Yates Racing and its two-car Nextel Cup operation.
Petty Enterprises, founded by Richard’s father, Lee, in 1949 as Lee Petty Engineering, is currently headquartered in Level Cross, North Carolina. At that location, the 60,000-square foot sprawling facility has become one of the most successful in motorsports’ history. The organization has won 268 NASCAR Nextel Cup races, 10 NASCAR Nextel Cup titles and nine Daytona 500 championships from inside the hallowed ground.
“Level Cross will always be the home of the wins and championships that the Petty family built," said team owner Richard Petty. “It is where Petty Enterprises was founded and where the team has won and built a legacy in NASCAR. Petty Enterprises and Level Cross are the same as Lambeau Field and the Green Bay Packers, Yankee Stadium and the New York Yankees and Boston Garden and the Boston Celtics. "
“At the same time this is a very exciting time for Petty Enterprises and our partners," continued Petty. “We are going to continue the heart and soul that is in Level Cross to what now has become the center of the NASCAR world. This was a tough and emotional decision for our family. We care deeply about our roots and this community. We will always call Level Cross our home as we never forget where we came from. We are looking forward to continuing our legacy at this new location."
The move, to begin in December and be completed by end of the year, includes the #43 Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge driven by Bobby Labonte and the #45 Marathon American Spirit Motor Oil/Wells Fargo/Tire Kingdom Dodge driven by Kyle Petty. It’s another move in the forward direction since 2006 when Robbie Loomis was named Vice President of Race Operations and 2000 Nextel Cup champion Bobby Labonte was announced as driver of the famed 43 Dodge.
It has not yet been determined how the current location of Petty Enterprises will be used in 2008.
Team History
· Founded in August of 1949 by Lee Petty as Lee Petty Engineering. Shop has 58 year history in Level Cross, North Carolina.
· Original A-Frame building is part of current Petty Enterprises race shop.
· Shop was built by Lee Petty whose house still sits feet next to race shop.
· Lee Petty won first Daytona 500 in 1959 out of race shop. Also earned three championships (1954, 58, 59) from race shop.
· Team assumed Petty Enterprises name in 1969.
· Richard Petty won 200 races from 1960 to 1984. 196 wins came from Petty Enterprises race shop.
· Richard Petty won seven championships based in Level Cross (1964, 67, 71, 72, 74, 75 and 1979).
· Kyle Petty won his first stock car race (ARCA) in at Daytona in 1979 in car prepared in Level Cross.
· 268 wins from race shop with eight different drivers (Lee Petty, Richard Petty, Jim Paschal, Marvin Panch, Pete Hamilton, Buddy Baker, Bobby Hamilton and John Andretti).
· 10 championships between Lee Petty (3) and Richard Petty (7) out of race shop.
· Nine Daytona 500 wins with drivers Lee Petty (1) Richard Petty (7) and Pete Hamilton (1) out of race shop.
· John Andretti last won in a #43 STP Pontiac in 1999 from Level Cross.
· Petty Enterprises will compete in 2008 from 115,000-square foot facility located at 112 Byers Creek Road, Mooresville, North Carolina 28117.
· All Petty Enterprises fabrication and race team operations will compete from Mooresville in 2008 excluding engine program.