Richard Petty Motorsports born out of GEM merger

CONCORD, N.C. -- Richard Petty's name will remain active in NASCAR under a rebranding of the new team created by the merger of his organization with Gillett Evernham Motorsports. The new team will be called Richard Petty Motorsports (RPM), capitalizing on the seven-time champion's marketability.

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"To continue Richard Petty's legacy is without question the most important factor in this relationship," team co-owner George Gillett said. "Our goal is to win not one championship as Richard Petty Motorsports, but to win multiple championships."

The two race teams agreed to merge earlier this month in a partnership that keeps the sponsor-strapped Pettys in racing. Reed Sorenson will drive the famed No. 43 Dodge for RPM this season.

"This begins the next great chapter for the Petty name in NASCAR," Petty said. "It was very important to us, not only to see the Petty name out on the race track, but also to be competitive and get all of our cars back into Victory Lane and competing for Sprint Cup Series championships on a regular basis."

Richard Petty Motorsports will field four cars in 2009: Kasey Kahne in the No. 9 and Elliott Sadler in the No. 19 will join Sorenson in the 43 for full seasons; A.J. Allmendinger will drive the No. 44 Dodge in a limited schedule.

"To bring the No. 43 and 44 together under the Richard Petty Motorsports banner means a lot to both me and my family," Petty said. "And then to pair with the No. 9 and 19 and their history really shows the spirit of this partnership. We are bringing two winning organizations together to take a competitive step forward for many years to come."

Sorenson

Petty is eager to give Sorenson, who succeeds Bobby Labonte in the No. 43, any help or advice he's asked to provide.

"Right now, he's 22 years old, so he's pretty open-minded," Petty said of Sorenson. "So he's never set in his ways about how things are supposed to be done. I think he's a quick learner--we'll find out."

Allmendinger, who will compete in the first five races of the season and selected races thereafter, impressed the brass at GEM last year when he posted an average finish of 16.4 in a fill-in role for the final five races of the season.

"I don't think you can say enough about A.J., both as a talent and as a professional, said Mark McArdle, vice president and managing director of competition for RPM. "He's a phenomenal competitor, he's a wonderful teammate, and he's certainly going to be a sparkplug in our organization."

In late December, GEM tried to negotiate a buyout of Sadler's contract with an eye toward putting Allmendinger in the No. 19.

Sadler, however, filed notice of intent to sue for breach of contract, naming GEM, Ray Evernham Enterprises, owner George Gillett and Allmendinger in the action. The sides settled, and Sadler kept his seat.

Allmendinger, who met with the principals in the deal for three hours Monday morning to hammer out details of his No. 44 ride, says the two can move past their plaintiff-defendant relationship and coexist as teammates.

Allmendinger

"I have no problem with Elliott," Allmendinger said. "I just want teammates that are fast, that I can go out there and learn from."

Kahne and Sorenson attended Monday's announcement, but Sadler, who was married during the offseason, was still on his honeymoon.

Richard Petty Motorsports will operate out of the GEM race shops in Statesville, N.C., and engine shop in Concord, N.C. Petty said Boston Ventures, which entered a partnership with Petty Enterprises last summer, would play a minor role in the new organization.

Gillett said he had no qualms about what amounts to taking his name off the door.

"It was the right decision," Gillett said. "I don't think anyone ever contemplated anything else. The name made a lot of sense, and it was something we were very proud to do -- and we look forward to trying to live up to the great expectations."

The Associated Press and Sporting News Wire Service contributed to this report.

Audio
• Allmendinger doesn't have any issues with Sadler