Jim Pettit II, AutoZone Southwest Series points leader, overcame a 24th place qualifying effort to notch his 8th Top-5 finish in eleven races and remain the 2004 season points leader.
After battling a carburetion problem that was not fixed until after qualifying, Pettit started near the back of the pack for the JC Glass 100. Duane Sharpe and the skilled crew of the 03 had the chassis all set-up, and once the problem was fixed Pettit was going to the front. We have all heard sound bites on TV where the crew chief or the driver says, “The car rolled out of the hauler fast and was on a rail the whole weekend.” The last time the Jim Pettit Racing team was at PIR in January that was the case. Qualifying inside the top-ten and running in the top-5 all afternoon, it looked like a Sunday drive to a 3rd place finish for the veteran driver. However, nothing could have been farther from the truth for the series point’s leader at Phoenix International Raceway (PIR) this weekend. Nine months later, bringing a different car with a new body, the 03 was chasing the problem all the way to “happy hour.” In fact it was not until after happy hour that the team was even smiling. But, anyone who has been around the 03 for any amount of time knows that no matter where the team starts, they will likely end the day, at the front.
When Jim fired the car up Sunday afternoon, Duane Sharp used the radio to change the tone of the race. It was not so much what was said, but how the veteran crew chief was relaying the information to his driver. After battling all weekend and starting in the 24th position, Sharpe spoke in a manner that had all listening feeling like everything was going to be just fine. When the green flag dropped to start the race, it was evident that Pettit was going to the front. He made quick work of Siefert in the #95, and Martz in the #60 on lap one. A new lap brought Pettit closer to the front passing the #9, #04, and #65 before the caution flag flew for #29 of Lynch due to spinning in turn two. What would turn out to be the only caution of the day saw the #23 of Holtz and three other cars visiting pit row for early changes. When the dust settled, Pettit was riding in 16th place and feeling pretty good about his Blue and Yellow HotWood Ford. Green flag action got started again on lap #9, and Pettit quickly got back to work. Passing the #6 of Souza on lap nine, and the #94 of Lamoure on lap ten, Pettit was now in the 14th position. He used the next four laps to catch up to Mcoun in the #16. Three laps later the #07 watched as Pettit put his Ford in the 12th position. With eighty-two laps remaining Pettit now had his sites on the #28 of Thomas Martin. Lap twenty would be the lucky number that saw Pettit move to the 11th spot. Just one spot outside of the top-ten Jim now set his sites on the #5 of Joe Herold. The 03 looked to be on a tear as it quickly reeled in the #5 and now stood in the 10th spot on lap twenty-three. From lap twenty-three until lap thirty Pettit chassed down the #56 of Danny Burson. Lap thirty-two saw the end of a good day for Gilliland in the #88 as he took his car to the pit area with engine trouble. With one third of the race already complete, Pettit now sat in the 8th spot. Because there were no cautions, the lead cars were well spread out around the track, and it took the 03 until lap forty-nine to catch the #15 of Miller. Six laps later Pettit used a skillful move to get around the #1 of Burney Lamar. On lap sixty-one the 03 worked around the #12 of Rookie leader Rip Michaels. With thirty-nine laps remaining Pettit was a little over two seconds behind 2003 champion Auggie Vidovich.
The veteran was closing the gap lap by lap when he thought he might have a right rear tire slowly going down. With the handling going away Pettit took it easy on the tires and brought the 03 home in the 5th position. With incredible effort, Pettit retained his point’s lead and won the PowerAde move of the race award for passing the most cars.
Now ten points ahead of 2001 champion Craig Raudman, the Jim Pettit Racing team looks to make their next move at Mesa Marin speedway in Bakersfield, Ca. In the only other visit to the high banked half mile track this year Pettit finished 2nd. As always the Jim Pettit Racing team would like to recognize California HotWood, DPI, LRP, and Top of the Hill Performance for their continued support. Special thanks go out to all the friends, families, and fans of the 03.
