NASCAR driver Kyle Petty passes checkride
Monday, November 17th, 2008
One of the newest pilots in the country is NASCAR race-car driver Kyle Petty, who passed his checkride recently in Concord, North Carolina, in a Cessna 172. Petty already owns a Columbia 400 and is in the process of transitioning to his beautiful new airplane. You’ll see it for yourself in a video to accompany an upcoming article in AOPA Pilot.
In that same video, you’ll find out what Matt Kenseth thinks of his new Mooney and hear how aviation comes to the rescue of busy drivers and crew on the circuit. Kenseth qualified third at the Homestead Miami Speedway at an average speed of more than 170 mph in his 800+ hp car. To get that average, he had to drive 210 mph on the straightaways. Look for the “NASCAR Pilots” article in 2009. (If a NASCAR racer were to run in a straight line, top speed would be 240 mph.)
Matt Kenseth (center) watches other cars qualify for the NASCAR race, November 14, at Homestead Miami Speedway while he waits in line for his attempt. He was third fastest after his qualifying run and came in 11th overall in the Chase for the Sprint Cup.
