Carpentier to take over No. 10 Dodge in final two races

STATESVILLE, N.C. -- Valvoline Evernham Racing and Gillett Evernham Motorsports announced Friday that driver Patrick Carpentier will take over driving duties in the No. 10 Dodge in place of Scott Riggs for the final two Nextel Cup Series races at Phoenix and Homestead. The plan is being implemented in an effort to give the No. 10 team a head start on preparations for the 2008 season. Also announced was that Carpentier will enter the Busch Series race at Homestead-Miami Speedway in a second Gillett Evernham Motorsports Dodge.

"We appreciate the contributions that Scott [Riggs] has made as the driver for Valvoline Evernham Racing over the past two seasons," said James Rocco, team owner of Valvoline Evernham Racing. "This is simply a move to prepare our program for next season."

Earlier this month, it was announced that Carpentier will take over the driving duties of the No. 10 Dodge full time in 2008 (complete story). In three NASCAR starts this season Carpentier has been impressive in both the Nextel Cup and Busch Series. He finished second in his first career Busch Series race at Montreal after qualifying on the pole and leading 14 laps. In his first Nextel Cup race at Watkins Glen, Carpentier led a season-high seven laps in the No. 10 Dodge en route to a 22nd-place finish.

"We're looking forward to the 2008 season and in preparation for that we want to give the No. 10 team the opportunity to work with Patrick as much as possible," explained Ray Evernham, CEO of Gillett Evernham Motorsports. "Putting Patrick in the car before the end of this season will offer him valuable seat time as well as the added opportunity to work with Kasey [Kahne] and Elliott [Sadler]."