In many ways, Kyle Petty is like a man trying to refurbish a once-glorious castle.

While people watching from the outside look toward the facades and grand spires, hoping to see signs of improvement, Petty’s hard at work deep inside, shoring up the foundation.

“You have to build the fundamentals,” said Petty, who is shouldering the dual role of leading the rebuilding efforts at Petty Enterprises while driving the No. 45 Dodges.

Petty has assumed the leadership role in making fundamental changes to a team that his grandfather, Lee, and father, Richard, built into a dynasty.

A big part of that change was the Pettys’ decision to join Dodge in its return to Winston Cup racing in 2001. That decision was, in large part, made to help lay a solid foundation for the career of a fourth-generation Petty driver, Kyle’s son Adam.

Two years ago Sunday, however, Adam was killed in a crash during practice for a Grand National race at New Hampshire International Speedway. That tragedy came just a few weeks after Adam had made his Winston Cup debut at Texas and after Lee Petty’s death. It was a period that shook the Petty dynasty to its core.

There have been major changes in the structure of the Petty Enterprises racing operation over the past two years. The team had been building its own engines for five decades, but now gets them from a company run by Mike Ege. The team also has outsourced engineering services and has, more than in previous years, gone outside to make hires in key leadership positions.

“The changes we’ve made will not be the last changes we make at Petty Enterprises,” Petty said. “We will continue to evaluate personnel and performance, because this is a performance-driven industry.