Inside the Halls of Petty: Two weeks 'til more work

I hear it all the time. People come to me and say, 'Robbie, it's almost here. It's right around the corner. We are so close.' I have no idea what they are talking about. I ask. They look at me with a strange eye and tell me that the season is almost over. They seem so confused that I can't understand that. I hate to tell them, but for us in the racing business there is no such thing as an offseason. It's just a time when we're not racing every weekend.

There are only two more races left on the schedule, and I'm hearing a lot of talk about the end of the season. That part is true, but it's no time for a vacation. There is still a lot of work to do, especially now with everyone getting ready for the new car to race every week in 2008. So, yeah, it's the end of the season, but that just means it's time to get ready for the next.

Inside Petty

Each week on NASCAR.COM, Robbie Loomis will take fans "Inside the Halls of Petty Enterprises." A championship-winning crew chief, Loomis has 26 victories atop the pit box and as Vice President of Operations oversees both Petty cars.

I think in a lot of ways we already are working for next season. We're thinking about our race teams, our sponsors and what we need to do to make all our fans happy next season. Maybe we're like a kid at Christmas. We're making a list, and hoping we get everything checked off when it comes January when it's time to test again. I know we've been busy creating that list right now. Can I tell you what's on that list? Well, I don't want someone else getting the same thing we're trying to get. I can tell you that we're working hard to make sure we are ready to win races in 2008.

We haven't forgotten about the next two weeks either. Phoenix is the next race and there is a lot of work going on today to get ready for Sunday's race. The guys are thinking about Homestead, too. We're making that last Homestead car special because it's the last time we will use that style of car. The next two weeks are going to be business as usual. It's a pattern of weekly racing that we are used to.

After Homestead, sure, it's a little different. The grind isn't as rough, but it's still busy. We're going to be preparing all our Avengers for testing and racing next season. We're going to test in the offseason and see if we can find some new tricks. The new cars have presented us with a puzzle to put together. We just have to make sure we're making the right steps. I think we have seen some good things this season, but there is room for improvement, too.

You have to go to the track and test. Kentucky is our vacation spot, or so it seems. The guys are down there testing a lot. It's a close track and helps everyone for the intermediate tracks. You have wind tunnel time and you are doing engineering work, too. There is always stuff going on. The guys keep working hard.

So I apologize if everyone seems to think I can't understand. It's just not in our genes to think that way. We get a little break around the holiday and make sure we see our families and friends. That's very, very important, but after Homestead we are going to be working hard. We're going to be working hard all through January, too. We want to come out in 2008 and be the best and win the Daytona 500. We start that process now.

First, however, we're going to go to Phoenix and Homestead. We're going to throw them everything we have for this season. We're not holding anything back. Ending the season with a win only helps the winter months.

See you in Victory Lane,
Robbie Loomis