NASCAR Cup Series

Petty steps back from racing to be with ill wife

Published Feb. 14, 2010 12:39 p.m. ET

foxsports

Seven-time NASCAR champion Richard Petty has essentially taken a leave of absence from his race team since his wife was diagnosed with cancer.

Petty says he hasn't been around the shop much since November and hasn't done many sponsorship appearances while his wife, Lynda Petty, undergoes treatment for central nervous system lymphoma.

Petty says his wife is feeling better after having surgery on both eyes and calls her cancer ``very treatable.'' He left her briefly this weekend to travel to Daytona International Speedway.

Petty has a record seven wins in the season-opening Daytona 500.

Lynda Petty is being treated at Duke University Medical Center, where Richard Petty says she has ``the best people in the world looking after the deal.''