Fast Break

Auto racing

Petty won’t even watch race

There won’t be a Petty in the Daytona 500 for the first time in more than 40 years.

Kyle Petty, the son of seven-time Daytona 500 winner Richard Petty, knew the day would come when NASCAR’s first family wouldn’t be at racing’s Super Bowl. But he’s not happy about it.

Petty, who dropped by the infield Saturday to do some TV work and promote a celebrity golf event he’ll host later this year in Phoenix, will be home in North Carolina today.

“I won’t even watch it on TV, that’s what it’s like,” said Petty, who’s run the 500 more than 25 times. “It’s crap is what it’s like.”

Petty found himself out of a job when Petty Enterprises merged with Gillett Evernham Motorsports and was rebranded Richard Petty Motorsports. The move kept the Petty name in the business, but Kyle Petty said he feels no loyalty for the new team.

“It means nothing to me,” he said.

Baseball

Phillies’ Romero says ban ‘insane’

When J.C. Romero returns to the mound after serving a 50-game suspension, the Phillies reliever surely will hear some boos, steriod chants and other insults.

The 32-year-old lefty is ready, but wants it known he does not consider himself a cheater.

“I didn’t do nothing wrong,” Romero said Saturday when pitchers and catchers reported to camp in Clearwater, Fla.

“It’s ridiculous. I don’t think I should be suspended 50 games. It doesn’t make any sense to me. They have some rules they have to follow, and it’s very unfortunate that I have to be the one paying the price. In my mind, I think it’s insane. I think it’s unfair. I’m being, they say, negligent, but then I’m being accused as somebody who takes steroids. That doesn’t fly too well. But it is what it is.”

Romero was suspended last month for testing positive for a banned substance after taking an over-the-counter supplement.

“My understanding, to juice, is like perhaps you go, let’s say to an alley, and stick a needle in your rear end,” Romero said. “That wasn’t the case.”

Baseball

Aaron: Let Bonds keep record

Hank Aaron believes Barry Bonds should keep big league baseball’s home run record.

“In all fairness to everybody, I just don’t see how you really can do a thing like that and just say somebody isn’t the record holder anymore, and let’s go back to the way that it was,” Aaron told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Friday.

Aaron hit 755 home runs in his career to break Babe Ruth’s mark of 714. Bonds surpassed Aaron in 2007 and has 762 career home runs.

Commissioner Bud Selig has indicated that he’s given some thought to returning the record to Aaron if it is proved Bonds used steroids.