Crumbling ‘King'dom

Lee Petty founded Petty Enterprises in 1949, but the team with 268 wins and 10 titles could be just a part of the sports history by the time Daytona rolls around in February.

The Petty’s and majority owners Boston Ventures are in discussions with Gillett-Evernham Motorsports to field the legendary No. 43.

If negotiations fail then the No. 43 might not compete for the first time since Rick Wilson drove the No. 44 the first season after Richard Petty retired.

Paired with the economic hardships Petty Enterprises is facing, they are now looking for a driver.

Bobby Labonte who had signed a four year contract with Petty Enterprises was released as the driver according to a press conference on Thursday.

Prior to the end of the Sprint Cup season Kyle Petty, son of Richard Petty, was released from his duties at Petty Enterprises as Chad McCumbee was slated to drive the second Petty car.

If GEM and Petty merge, the No. 43 would become the fourth car with the No. 9, No. 10, and No. 19 in the GEM stable. But if the negotiations fail then the No. 43 will run as a single car entity for the 2009 season.