LEVEL CROSS - Quarterback Kyle Farlow of Randleman (N.C.) High wears jersey No. 3, but on his mother's side of the family, it's the No. 43 that is near and dear to the hearts of so many racing fans across the country.

Farlow is the grandson of NASCAR legend Richard Petty, who wowed crowds by winning a record 200 stock car races, seven Daytona 500s and seven championships in his "Petty Blue" STP No. 43 car during his career.

Most people don't make the connection between the two because of the different last name.

"It's definitely got its perks," said Farlow, a senior who has started for the Tigers since early in his freshman season and the son of Sharon Petty Farlow. "People ask me about him, what it's like and I tell them that he's just my grandpa. It's just like having a normal grandpa to me. He gives me advice and helps me with leadership. He loves football, but he helps me the most in the aspects of leadership."

"I think people find out (he's my grandpa) either way, but in a way I think it helps having a different last name. I‟ve kind of made a name for myself on my own."

Petty, who still wears his trademark cowboy hats, belt buckles and sports a million-dollar smile, kidded with his grandson during an April visit at Petty's Garage about his jersey number, and jokingly threatened to use a Sharpie to add a "4" before the No. 3 on his jersey.

After mimicking like he was going to do so, he then grinned and rubbed Farlow's head as the two laughed.

While they don't share the same name, they appear to have the same fun-loving approach to life and people.

Farlow said he enjoys watching sports with his famous grandfather because he isn't just watching the action.

"He has to break it down and talk about why something works or doesn't," Farlow said. "There's not just one story with him that jumps out for me, there's so many we've shared. He's one of those guys that like to break stuff down. Even when we are watching golf, it's the little things that intrigue him. He will talk about the equipment and the grass, and how it's all changed and it's different now. He just enjoys looking at the technical stuff that goes into it."

Petty, whose son Kyle was also a quarterback at Randleman before becoming a NASCAR driver, said he's had no more influence on Farlow's life than any other typical grandparent would.

"He likes golf and he likes football," Petty said of his grandson. "He's eating up with the football deal right now. He plays golf when he can't do football, but the football is really what he wants to do. He does a pretty decent job at it."

Last year, Farlow brought Petty news of a bad grade he'd made on a geometry assignment and Petty let his grandson know he was probably making the assignment too difficult.

- Kyle Farlow, quarterback at Randleman (N.C.) High and grandson of NASCAR great Richard Petty.

"I was telling him about it and he just kept saying, 'all it is is angles and lines,'" Farlow said. "He told me about reading a book about it, and he rattled off all of this stuff. He takes things that are more complicated and he breaks them down until they seem so easy. That's how he is."

Outside of watching Farlow play football and hanging out with family, Petty said he takes his grandson to races when possible to spend more time with him.

But it's pretty clear that Farlow has a passion for football.

As a junior, Farlow guided Randleman to the second round of the playoffs. Coach Shane Handy's team runs a spread offense and throws the ball more often than not, but the Tigers can run the ball out of the I-formation. Farlow completed 134 of 247 attempts during his junior season for 1,651 yards and 19 touchdowns. He was an all-Piedmont Athletic 2-A Conference selection and was named an all-Randolph County selection. The 6-2, 183-pound signal caller runs a 4.78 second 40-yard dash and hopes to play football in college.

Farlow has visited some area schools, but has not received any scholarship offers yet. He attended summer camps and has already received letters from area ACC schools, East Carolina, Elon and a number of smaller schools.

Farlow said his second love - golf - has helped him stay composed during pressure-filled moments on the gridiron. Farlow plays golf for the Tigers also, and averages around 40 per nine holes but sported a six handicap last summer.

"With golf you have to stay calm, because if you don't you are just going to hit bad shot after bad shot," Farlow said. "I used to play football with a lot of emotion, but golf has helped me stay calm now. I have to be calm and can't be overly emotional and still be the team leader in the huddle."

Petty, nicknamed "The King" for his racing accomplishments, said Farlow, like all 12 of his grandchildren, made their own mark in things they enjoyed.

"He's just a regular kid like all our grandkids have been," Petty said. "He does his thing and the others do theirs. Right now, Kyle's ambition is to go to school to play football. That's what his ambition is, and as long as he keeps that in focus then he'll be good at it."