NASCAR's last tradition may be gone

In the past 10 years, NASCAR has stopped racing at North Carolina Speedway in Rockingham, lost its main-stay sponsor in Winston, changed how the champion is crowned in the Sprint Cup Series and drastically changed the look of its race cars. But there were two constants in NASCAR from its early days. Petty Enterprises and the Wood Brothers. Now both may be gone as we know them.

Petty Enterprises, who has nine Cup championship between founder Lee Petty and his son, Richard, sold most of itself to Boston Ventures. Major teams selling interest to marketing agencies is becoming prevalent, even for the big teams. Jack Roush sold 50 percent of his Roush Racing organization to Fenway Marketing and owner John Henry, who is the principal owner of the Boston Red Sox. Ray Evernham did the same thing with his team.

But Petty's team may not enjoy the same fate as the other two organizations. It was leaked last week that Boston Ventures is looking to sell, or merge is the popular term, Petty Enterprises to Gillett Evernham Motorsports. That move could keep the famous No. 43 out of NASCAR. Maybe for good.

The Pettys and Boston Ventures lost their sponsorship for Bobby Labonte and the No. 43 car for 2009 to Richard Childress Racing. They also have no sure driver or sponsorship for the team's second car. So Petty Enterprises may be sold to GEM to form a four-car operation.

Also a fall from grace is the Wood Brothers organization. The Wood Brothers famous No. 21 car was a coveted ride through the 60s, 70s and 80s. Some of NASCAR's best drivers have driven for the team including David Pearson, Cale Yarborough, A.J. Foyt, Buddy Baker and Dale Jarrett.

The Woods announced just days after the Petty rumor arised, that the No. 21 team will cut its schedule to running just 12 of the schedule's 36 races. Part-time driver since 2004, Bill Elliott, will pilot the car in those races.

NASCAR has changed a lot in its 60 years of existence, but none of the changes have been more obvious than those made in the past decade. Now that the famed No. 43 and No. 21 cars may be gone; NASCAR's links to the past may be disappearing with them.