Kyle Petty Getting Out Of Cup, Looking To Run Grand-Am

October 30, 2008 7:03 p.m. EST

Daytona Beach, FL (AHN) - Longtime NASCAR driver Kyle Petty says he doesn't have a ride for 2009 so it's time to move on.

Petty, a fulltime NASCAR driver the past 27 seasons, has driven the family-owned Petty Enterprises Dodge the last 11 years but when his father, Richard Petty, sold the company to Boston Ventures, the new owner decided to go in another direction.

"I'm not in the day-to-day running, not involved with any decision process. When my father sold it, they called it a merger, but Boston Ventures bought the controlling interest,'' said Kyle, former CEO of Petty Enterprises. "I just drive a car. If they come and say, 'Help us pitch something, no problem. If they want me to run a limited schedule, no problem.''

As a result, Petty, who has 828 career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts under his belt, is looking to run full-time in the Grand-Am Rolex Series.

Petty is working on deal to drive the No. 45 Orbit Racing Riley BMW, hinting that his longtime sponsors, Wells Fargo and Coca-Cola, want to go along for the ride.

Petty tested the No. 45 Daytona Prototype, owned by Roger Hawley, over the 3.56-mile road course at Daytona International Speedway this week. "When I first drove with these guys (Grand-Am) like seven years ago, I told them that when I quit over there (Cup), or if they run me off, this is the place where I would want to come," said Petty.

Chad McCumbee is the heir-apparent to the drive the No. 45 Dodge in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and new team owner Boston Ventures is turning former owner Richard Petty into a team figurehead.