OPINION

By Kenny Bruce

updated 9:48 p.m. ET Aug. 5, 2008

Officials with Petty Enterprises say they are committed to taking whatever steps are necessary to get the legendary team back on its feet.

If that's the case, then perhaps it's time for the organization, which has been competing in NASCAR since 1949, to hand the keys to someone other than Kyle Petty.

Kyle's grandfather, Lee, founded the team and won three championships. Richard Petty, Kyle's father, was a seven-time champion and remains the most recognizable driver stock car racing has ever produced. And Kyle, in his own way, has carved out a successful niche in the sport as both a driver and spokesperson.

But if the organization is as committed as it claims to be, the time has come for Kyle to step aside.

This spring, Petty, 48, began what was supposed to be a six-race hiatus to spend time in the television booth. He extended his break to include Indianapolis, Pocono and Michigan, but his brief departure is doing precious little to help the No. 45 Dodge team move forward.

Chad McCumbee, 23, has been given too few opportunities to become acclimated to the rigors of Cup competition. In an attempt to move into the top 35 in owner points, the team chose to rely on Terry Labonte and his past champion's provisional for the bulk of races Petty has missed instead of giving McCumbee a vote of confidence.

So far, the strategy — a Band-Aid solution for problems that run much deeper — hasn't worked. When Petty climbed out of the car after the Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway, the team was 41st in owner points and 303 points outside the top 35, the cutoff for a guaranteed spot in the field each week. Eight races later, after the Allstate 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the team still was 41st, 273 points out of the top 35.

The problem is that the team has been unable to build chemistry between driver and crew. And in NASCAR, chemistry is king. If McCumbee is the future of the team, then he needs more time behind the wheel. Sitting on the sideline does little to prepare him for what lies ahead.

That Petty has managed just one top five finish since 1998 should speak volumes. That's one top five in 10 years, folks. Ten years. This is not to say Petty is to blame for all of the organization's problems. Petty Enterprises' second team has only 10 top fives during that same span using a variety of drivers.

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Petty has said he still has the desire and drive to compete. And I don't doubt that. But how many drivers would keep their job with such a mediocre showing for such a long period?

The answer is crystal-clear. Not one.

In his own way, Kyle is as much a part of the Petty brand as his father. But eventually, even Richard realized that it was time to step aside and leave the driving to someone else. That time has now arrived for Kyle.

If the organization truly wants to move forward and become competitive, things have to change. It's time for the folks at Petty Enterprises to bite the bullet. Before the bullet bites them.

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