Petty hopes Andretti stays: Kyle Petty said on Saturday that he hopes John Andretti returns for a sixth season in the #43 Cheerios Dodge, but also acknowledged that Andretti is exploring other options. “John’s been out talking, and that’s a fact of life in Winston Cup racing,” Petty said, ” We want him to stay. We would be remiss to change drivers.” Andretti’s contract with Petty Enterprises is up at the end of this year. It’s been a frustrating season for Andretti, 39, who has scored just three top-20 finishes in 12 races this season and is currently 32nd in points. He was 31st last year. Petty also said that the improvement of the #44 Dodge — Steve Grissom finished eighth at Richmond, that car’s best finish since 2000 — has sparked interest among other drivers. Petty is also busy solidifying the future of his own #45 Dodge, whose contract with Sprint runs out at the end of the year. Petty’s other two cars, the #43 and the #44, are fully sponsored for 2003.(NASCAR.com)(6-1-2002)
