Kyle Petty has been transferred to a local Bristol hospital for further observation, Petty was awake and alert otherwise. This ends Petty’s 40 race streak of not having an DNF-Did Not Finish. UPDATE: Winston Cup driver Kyle Petty was airlifted to Bristol Regional Medical Center for evaluation following a hard wreck on Lap 424 of 500 in Sunday’s Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Ward Burton spun in Turn 3, hit Petty’s No. 45 Dodge and Petty’s car swung hard into the wall, driver’s side first. Petty had to be assisted out of his car by medical personnel and went to the track’s infield care center for initial evaluation. He appeared very groggy. Petty was awake and alert at the care center but was sent to the hospital for precautionary measures. Petty was expected to be released from the hospital later Sunday. “He just said he hurt all over,” said Petty’s crew chief, Steven Lane. “I think they are just going to take him for the sake of caution just to make sure he is OK. I hope that’s all that it is. He took a hard lick.”( ThatsRacin.com )(3-23-2003) UPDATE 2: Kyle Petty was treated and released from Bristol Regional Medical Center on Sunday night after a hard impact late in Sunday’s race.( Roanoke Times ) UPDATE 3: Kyle Petty returned home Sunday night following the Food City 500 NASCAR Winston Cup race. He is expected to be ready for this weeks events at Texas Motor Speedway. Petty was examined at Bristol (Tenn.) Regional following a crash Sunday, and was released. He will obviously follow up with a routine examination from his personal physician this week. “Hes very sore,” said Steven Lane, crew chief for Pettys #45 Georgia-Pacific Dodge. “He hit pretty hard, so you would expect that. But he should be ready to go at Texas this week.”(Williams Company)(3-24-2003)
