This is the Statt Mann Baby!!  Time to Scatt a little bit.

I’ve been a Richard Petty fan as long as I can remember.  I always loved his domination on the track and, when we first met back in the early 70s, he treated me with respect.  That hasn’t always been the case for me in the NASCAR garage even today.

So it’s hard for me to watch the dismantling of the Petty Legend.  I feel about the 43 the same way some feel about the Earnhardt 3.  I’m still disappointed to watch the 43 back up through the field on a Sunday afternoon no matter who’s driving it.

The other day I had a long time friend see a picture of me with Richard on the SpeedFreaks website.  He made a crack about Petty’s southern roots and rural persona.

I had to tell him that Richard is more urban than some of my inner-city friends despite the fancy cowboy hat and belt buckle.

Many times you can tell a person’s mental reality by looking at his offspring and in Richard’s case, Kyle – his son – is as righteous a guy as Richard is.  At least that’s the way he’s been with me and I can’t ask for more than that.

So, taking all that into consideration, it’s my solemn hope that Petty and the number 43 don’t disappear in a maze of greed and big business branding beside the Montreal Canadiens and the Liverpool soccer club, two other pieces of interest owned by George Gillett, the man who finally bailed out Petty Enterprises this week.

Petty’s bigger than that even if you don’t remember, don’t understand or don’t even care.

Peace.