MOORESVILLE, N.C. — Petty Enterprises will use three different drivers in the No. 45 Dodge over the next three races as it continues to evaluate the slumping team.
Chad McCumbee will attempt to qualify the car this weekend at Pocono Raceway. Kyle Petty will try to qualify the car the next week at Watkins Glen, and Terry Labonte will drive it at Michigan.
“Chad, Kyle and Terry will be competing at places where they have all had success in the past,” said Robbie Loomis, vice president of race operations. “That should put the No. 45 team in the best position possible to gain points on the teams in front of us in owner points.
“Everyone at Petty Enterprises is committed to doing whatever it takes to get this team back inside the top-35. That is one of our highest priorities as an organization.”
The No. 45, which is typically driven by Petty, is currently 41st in car owner standings and 273 points out of the top 35.
Petty has not raced the car since Lowe’s Motor Speedway in May. He took a six-race hiatus to join TNT during its portion of the NASCAR broadcast schedule, and has given up seat time this season to both McCumbee and Labonte.
He’ll get back in the car at Watkins Glen, where he has one victory and four top-10s in 20 career starts.
“He has been a great road course racer throughout his career,” Loomis said. “I know he is looking forward to it as well so we are going up there with a lot of confidence that we will have a solid run.”
McCumbee takes over the car this weekend, when he’ll attempt to make his first Sprint Cup start of the season. He made the first series start of his career at Pocono last season when he finished 25th while filling in for Petty. He also won the ARCA race on that track last season.
Labonte, who has competed in seven races in the No. 45 this season, returns to the car at Michigan on Aug. 17.
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