Fantasy NASCAR Racing

struggled with only six top-10s, en route to a 15th place in points.  Schrader's 1999 season compelled him to leave APR.  However, Petree was quick in signing Joe Nemechek and sponsor Oakwood Homes, after Skoal announced it would not be on the #33 for the first time in 21 years.  The 2000 season was complete opposite for Petree's drivers.  Nemechek was solid as he won 1 pole, and secured three top-5s and nine top-10s.  Petree fielded a full or part time team until 2003 with various drivers.  Those included Joe Nemechek, Geoff Bodine, Bobby Hamilton, Greg Biffle, Paul Menard and others.  Still searching for victory in 2001, Petree kept Nemechek in the #33 and hired Bobby Hamilton to drive the #55.  It would turn out to be Petree's best season yet.  The ninth race of the year, at Talladega Superspeedway, featured an amazing battle.  After multiple lead changes, Hamilton took the lead as he took the white flag and held off Tony Stewart to win Petree's first career race.  Hamilton would earn six more top-10s and 18th in the final 2001 rundown.  Joe Nemechek also won at Rockingham.  For 2002, Petree still wished to run the #33 along with Hamilton.  Mike Wallace would drive the car for four races.  However, with a best finish of 21st (Daytona 500) and its most memorable moment being at Talladega, (starting the big wreck) the #33 team's glory days were over.  It would be up to Hamilton and the #55 team.  However, just as the #33 quit for good, Hamilton was injured.  Greg Biffle and Ron Hornaday took over.  Hamilton came back and promptly announced he was leaving to form his own his truck team.  Petree was backed in a corner.  By February 2003, his Cup team was done.  With no sponsor to be found, Christian Fittipaldi's run in the #33 Monaco Chevy in the Daytona 500 appeared to be the final race.  However, Petree wasn't quite done.  His longtime friend, John Menard convinced him to look at John's son, Paul Menard, who impressed Petree and he signed him to a contract quickly.  Paul made his debut in the #55 Chevrolet at Nashville Superspeedway, Petree's first career Busch race as an owner.  It was a productive race, as Paul finished 12th.  After finishing 14th at the next race at Kentucky Speedway, Petree allowed Menard to make his Cup debut at Watkins Glen International (after Paul had DNQd at Infineon).  That race at the Glen would be Petree's last Cup race.  The next week, Paul grabbed his first top-10 at IRP.  Petree, who had made some Craftsman Truck Series starts, decided to put Paul in some Truck races. Menard drove the #33 Menards truck in 5 races and finished with one top-10, an 8th place at Kansas.  Petree signed Menard to a full Xfinity Series schedule for 2004, hoping to get Menard ready for a return to NASCAR Cup in 2006.  However, Menard had other plans.  Halfway through the year, Menard signed with Dale Earnhardt, Inc., leaving Petree without at driver and without a sponsor.  His last Xfinity race would be at Chicago, which driver Clint Bowyer drove.  Petree was also a NASCAR driver.  In 1988, Petree joined the G & G Racing team for 4 races.  He finished one event inside the Top 20.  While working for Dale Earnhardt, Earnhardt allowed Petree to drive his Xfinity car at Martinsville (1994).  After starting 27th, Petree bettered his career best with a 16th.  It would be his final Xfinity Series start.  While his NASCAR Cup team was falling apart, Petree tried to get some momentum going in the Craftsman Truck Series.  Petree made his debut in that series at Martinsville in 2002.  Despite an impressive third place qualifying effort, Petree crashed and finished in 31st.  However, the race at IRP later that year was better.  He finished 12th.  In 2003, Petree made four Truck starts and finished in the top-20 in each; with a career best finish of 10th.  Petree's final start of his NASCAR career came at his best track: Martinsville in 2004.  Petree led his driver in 392 races, and the accumulated 25 wins.  Most notable was: Southern 500 (1991); Coke 600 (1993); and Brickyard 400 (1995).  He also posted two wins in the Xfinity series in 1990 with driver Harry Gant.