Todd Parrott and driver Bobby Labonte know what it takes to be successful, especially at Michigan. Credit: Autostock

Shop Talk: Todd Parrott

Petty Enterprises' crew chief Todd Parrott mirrors the background of the driver of the Dodge Charger that he prepares in one critical respect: Both he and Bobby Labonte have had success all over the NASCAR map, including championships and numerous race victories.

Todd Parrott is part of the all-star team that is trying to put the No. 43 car back in Victory Lane. Credit: Autostock

Inside the Numbers Bobby Labonte's 2006 results Race Start Finish Status Daytona 8 35 crash California 27 31 running Las Vegas 17 30 running Atlanta 4 43 engine Bristol 30 5 running Martinsville 13 32 running Texas 10 10 running Phoenix 21 8 running Talladega 31 29 engine Richmond 35 24 running Darlington 11 22 running Charlotte 5 17 running Dover 28 13 running Pocono 23 12 running Average 18.8 22.2   Change for the betterWith new additions to the team, Petty Enterprises entered '06 ready to turn heads Sign up for TrackPass now BUY THE NEXTEL i836

In many aspects, that makes them perfect partners in the current rebuilding effort of the famous No. 43 that was made famous by The King, Richard Petty, to the tune of seven Cup championships and 200 race victories.

Both Parrott and Labonte have won Bud Poles and races at this weekend's venue, Michigan International Speedway, site of Sunday's 3M Performance 400.

Parrott took a break while preparing for the Pocono 500 to talk about the resurgence of Petty Enterprises, his feelings about working in the company of legends and the ideal setup and strategy for Michigan.

Q: Todd, do you feel like your brother, Brad, who was crew chief for Carl Edwards' Busch Series team at Roush Racing and who now has the same role for Casey Mears at Ganassi Racing, is unfairly persecuted for his unfulfilled aspirations to be an Olympic gymnast?

Parrott: Hell, he can't do cartwheels, the big fat [butt] that he is. My God, he's as big as I am. I mean -- grown men don't need to be doing cartwheels.

If you work out in a gym every day or every morning like Carl Edwards does, and does backflips, that's a different story.

But somebody that doesn't go to the gym or work out -- or even get on a treadmill -- they don't need to be doing cartwheels. I guess it does prove again the brain is the strongest organ we got.

Brad's very intense and he works very hard at what he does. Bottom line is, everywhere he's been [he's won].

Q: Seriously -- your dad, Buddy, worked with The King and was with him when Richard Petty won his 200th race. With the legend of Petty Enterprises what's your experience been like through the first third of this season?

Parrott: It's been an experience and like I said, I kind of knew coming in what it was going to be like and what to look for. I haven't tried to change everything that they have going on -- and they have a lot of good things going on.

But we have been behind all year and I don't foresee us getting to a point -- maybe until the last 10 races -- where we might be, I'd say, caught up. We started the season behind and it's going to be that way.

	Robbie Loomis came to Petty to oversee operations, and his experience along with that of Todd Parrott have improved PE's garage knowledge. Credit: Autostock
	Move to PettyMarty Smith talks to Robbie Loomis in February about his move to Petty Sign up for TrackPass now BUY THE NEXTEL i836

Q: But people knew that coming in, so knowing that, you've got to be pleased with how well you've run this season, right?

Parrott: Oh yeah, I'm tickled. The way things have gone I think we've done good. We've done very good with the timeframe we had to get everything ready and to get the people in place.

We've rebuilt every car that we had, body-wise. It just takes time. Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither was Petty Enterprises.

Q: Petty Enterprises has had a reputation for maybe being behind a little, technologically, but with them bringing in Robbie Loomis and yourself, Bobby Labonte and more engineers and equipment -- and running better now -- do you see that changing?

Parrott: Oh yeah, absolutely. Everything is getting better, but it's just a time deal. When you come to the racetrack, you're fighting time. It's tough -- it's just hard.

Q: If you've got a checklist of goals you're accomplishing with the No. 43 car, what's next on your list?

Parrott: To win a race. I take that back. First, we've got to get running consistently in the top 10 -- consistently week in and week out -- or at least every other week before you can even think about winning a race.

Competition is so tough these days, you've got to be there, and hopefully make the right calls, the car will be good enough and sooner or later you'll go to Victory Lane.

Q: With Bobby's history, and your own record at Michigan, where each of you has won both races and pole positions, you've got to be optimistic going there, right?

	Next on the list for Bobby Labonte and the No. 43 crew, says Todd Parrott, is being consistent. Credit: Autostock
	Q&A: PETTY ENTERPRISES Bobby Labonte and Kyle Petty answer questions as to why -- and how -- Petty Enterprises is poised to return to the elite level in Cup Series racing.  •   For complete Q&A, click here NASCAR MinuteBobby Labonte talks about his new life at Petty Enterprises Sign up for TrackPass now BUY THE NEXTEL i836

Parrott: We absolutely feel good about it. We've got a good car going to Michigan -- the car we ran at Dover -- and we feel really good about that car. Just like I said, it's going to be new because it's our first time as a group going there.

All the setups have changed and nothing is like it used to be anywhere, so it's going to be like starting from scratch. I've won at Michigan as a crew chief but that doesn't mean anything, because like I said, everything has changed since I won, since Bobby won, since Robbie won and since The King won.

Nothing's the same going to Michigan this week.

Q: With what you you've seen through the first 14 races this season with the 2006 Dodge Charger, what do you think is the biggest setup challenge to getting that car competitive at Michigan?

Parrott: I think it will be getting the car turning and keeping it turning from the center of the corner off is going to be the key. Obviously, keeping the car down out of the air will be key, whether we're coil-bound or not coil-bound and with what the spring setup is.

You've got to be fast down the straightaway, but you have to have the car turning good from the center out.

Q: It seems driving that coil-bound, stiff setup is an issue with some drivers, so how does Bobby like it?

Parrott: You might have to ask him that. I think it's something that he's learning and it's different. We're trying things each week and trying things to get better and trying to see exactly what we need -- and like I said, it's hard.

Q: At Michigan, and in general, how much emphasis do you put on qualifying?

Parrott: The last few weeks we've gone to the racetrack in race trim, but this week I'm going to do something different. We're going to the racetrack in qualifying trim.

We're going to go for the pole and a good, solid qualifying effort. We're going to go in qualifying trim and get a good run in qualifying and a good starting position, hopefully.

Q: Michigan's a place where a lot of times we see lots of green-flag racing, so how does that affect and influence the way you set up the racecar?

Parrott: If it's a situation like that, you want to be good in the long run if it's going to be a lot of green-flag racing. But you've got to be fast on the first lap and you've got to be fast after 40 or 50 laps, too.

It's always a balance thing.

Q: Is plotting your late-race strategy difficult, with so many fuel-mileage finishes at Michigan -- to the point where you've just got to be aware of it and wait and see how it shakes out?

Parrott: Yeah, I mean, you've just got to see how the race unfolds and whether or not it's going to come down to fuel mileage, and to make the adjustments you have to, as that happens.

Q: In 2005, neither of the Petty Enterprises cars did particularly well at Michigan -- but they've both run much better this season -- so do you consider that ancient history?

Parrott: I hope what's gone on at Michigan in the past is ancient history and that hopefully we can make things better, run up front and get our car in position to where we can be in position to maybe win a race.