Petty predicts 'personnel swaps' among four teams

LONG POND, Pa. -- Richard Petty confirmed on Sunday at Pocono Raceway that Richard Petty Motorsports would consist of four teams for the balance of the 2009 season, but to expect "personnel swaps" among those four squads.

Richard Petty

Petty spoke in reaction to rumors last week that the team, which laid off nine employees and instituted salary cuts in June, would drop a team, dump driver Reed Sorenson and move driver A.J. Allmendinger to the No. 43 Dodge.

Kasey Kahne, who's in a qualified position for the Chase for the Sprint Cup with six races remaining to the cutoff, and Elliott Sadler are RPM's other two drivers.

"We're going to have four cars, but we're going to do some changing around," said Petty, co-owner of the team with George Gillett Jr. "We're looking to finish up this season preparing for next season. We've got one car, hopefully, that's going to be in the Chase and the other three we've got to get squared away and anticipate for next year.

"There will be some swapping around with different personnel and stuff like that to put in motion, this year ... to see how it works in preparation for next year. Then, if it doesn't work, we've still got time to make change for next year."

• RPM official addresses car downsizing, driver change