Long: Kurt Busch’s win helped turn darkness to light for the Petty family

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — When Denny Hamlin called Kyle Petty last year seeking permission to use the No. 45 for his second team at 23XI Racing, Petty couldn’t give an answer. 

He had to talk to his children.

The No. 45 had not been used by the family since the end of the 2008 season as a tribute to Adam Petty. That was his number as he moved to Cup and that number rode with Richard Petty’s grandson when he made his lone Cup start in 2000 at Texas Motor Speedway. 

Adam Petty died in a crash six weeks later during practice at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

Adam Petty’s sister, Montgomery Lee, then 14, eulogized her brother a few days later through sniffles and tears before 1,500 relatives, friends and some of NASCAR’s most famous competitors. 

“Every memory of Adam is a great memory,” she said that day. 

Before walking off stage and being escorted to her seat by Richard Petty, Montgomery Lee said: “I love you Adam.” 

The sport’s love of Adam kept the No. 45 with the Petty family for the last 20 years.

“NASCAR protected that number,” Kyle Petty told NBC Sports. “Kyle Petty never protected that number. Richard Petty didn’t protect that number. Our family didn’t. The people at NASCAR protected that number because they knew what it meant to our family.”

Hamlin sought the No. 45 for co-owner Michael Jordan. That was Jordan’s number when he returned to the NBA in 1995 after using it when he played minor league baseball. NASCAR, which oversees the use of numbers, told Hamlin he needed to talk to Kyle Petty.

After talking with Hamlin, Kyle Petty called Montgomery Lee and son Austin to relay Hamlin’s request. 

They approved.

“You have to realize that as this came about,” Kyle Petty said, “Adam has been gone longer than he was here. We’ve