GEM-Petty Merger Brings Elliott Sadler Back

I suppose you could chalk this up as one of those deals that just makes you want to go "hmmm."

Not only did one of NASCAR's most-storied organizations lose much of its independent identity thanks to a merger cued from financial necessity, but a driver thought to be on axe from the other merged team is back in the fold.

In other words, just another day in the always unpredictable world of NASCAR.

Petty Enterprises, owned by NASCAR's "King" Richard Petty, joined forces with a fellow Dodge racing team, Gillett Evernham Racing, thanks to a lack of sponsorship that saw the team's premier driver walk out the door just weeks ago. On the verge of shutting down its operations, the merger breathes a new hint of life back into the famed operation.

On the Gillett side of things, the biggest story of late has been the reported hiring of NASCAR young gun A.J. Allmendinger to fill the ride of Elliott Sadler -- despite the fact that Sadler had signed a new, multi-year deal with the team last season.

Now, the team has confirmed, the "family" has made up from some in-fighting and Sadler will once again take the controls of the No. 19 for the full 2009 season with Allmendinger signed up to run at least eight races in the fourth car of the operation.

What's all this mean for on-track activiity, you ask?

Well, for now, the plan is for Sadler to keep the No. 19, Kasey Kahne returns in his No. 9 Budweiser Dodge, Reed Sorenson will pilot Petty's No. 43 car and for Allmendinger to drive an unannounced car.

Chad McCumbee, a young driver in waiting at Petty, had hoped to pick up a Sprint Cup ride in 2009, but as of now, those plans are on hold.

The AP's Jenna Fryer mentioned that the team could take the moniker of "Richard Petty Motorsports" in an effort to promote the 7-time champion's connection in addition to creating one of the coolest acronym a team could have -- "RPM".

So, at the end of the day (today at least), the No. 43 is still around, Richard Petty still has a reason to hang out in the NASCAR garage area, Elliott Sadler got his job back and a bit of sponsorship luck will see A.J. Allmendinger in a decent car for 2009.

Not a bad day if you're a NASCAR fan.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

1-09-2009 @ 8:31PM

maveness said...

I'm still reeling from all this craziness. LOL The only concrete thing I can say is, somebody at GEM is a moron.

1-10-2009 @ 8:25AM

seaberl said...

Where is Bobby Labonte? He really got dealt the bad hand,

1-10-2009 @ 10:25AM

Maveness said...

Bobby had a little more time to get out and try and get a ride somewhere. It's still in just the rumor stages, but the rumor is that he's up for the 41 car at DEI/Ganassi. Which is something I think that team needs - a veteran to guide them.

1-10-2009 @ 2:29PM

Stewart Fan said...

I agree with Maveness that someone at GEM is nuts.

If I worked for GEM, I would be actively seeking a new job. I think the reason they wanted to drop Sadler was because AJ was cheaper. I haven't read the Nascar press actually covering Gillett's financial woes but I may have missed it. The soccer, hockey and business press are writing plenty of articles about it tho. Nascar fans seem to be looking at it as AJ vs Sadler driver skill while I think it was all cost driven. jmo

1-10-2009 @ 5:39PM

Yeah, I don't see it as much as AJ v Elliott as GEM/AJ's agent versus Elliott. AJ's business manager did some running at the mouth that's just stupid, but GEM are the ones that haven't said a single thing for hte past week and a half. That says more than anything Elliott, AJ's agent, Elliott's lawyer or AJ could have to say. GEM not talking means they had the most to hide.

AJ is definitely cheaper. Which is why they shouldn't have signed a two year contract with Elliott when they were having money woes if they needed cheaper. Of course, my experience is that those highest up don't always have a true read on what's going on and make stupid decisions because they're hopeful that the best will happen instead of preparing for hte worst. (Not to mention that the Gillette folks are new to the sport and don't know what to do in a downtime.)

1-11-2009 @ 5:41PM

Charles Yount said...

pettys have dug themself i a hole so deep by not keeping up and making everyone a shame of the infamous petty name,especially letting that no talent kyle hang on like the sorry dumba-- walthip!

2-05-2009 @ 6:18PM

kingdoc43 said...

your comments show your ignorance of the sport.the fact that they didnt keep up at petty enterprises is strictly financial.the racing operation was and is the only source of income for the pettys unlike the major players now.the fact you have no allegiance with a driver and probably have a host of drivers you pull for tells me you are a wanna be fan.theres a lot of us that are not ashamed of the pettys but are ashamed of nascar for letting the hendricks,the roush racing and the other big money teams ruin something that was a great sport in the 70's and 80's

1-10-2009 @ 9:06PM

Dan Horton said...

I am glad that the Petty Name is staying in Nascar, what a loss that would have been for the sport. Nascar really needs to get back to the old basics of racing of letting every team having to qualify,no owner points, no teams over 2 cars and letting some of the smaller 1 car teams back in racing, these big multi car teams like Hendricks, Roush etc are killing the sport with all their big money. Fans want to see the smaller teams get in and root for them also!Too many regulations, and not enough real racing, thats what your supposed to be paying for!!

1-11-2009 @ 1:42AM

Shane said...

I dont think NASCAR cares about NASCAR anymore or the fans, and for sure not one car teams,I think they just want to ruin the sport.....oh,sorry,they already did

1-11-2009 @ 9:33AM

Chris Morey said...

For me, I am thrilled to know that the 43 car will be at Daytona! I do not think that Reed Sorenson is the best choice for the driver..... so many better drivers would give thier rides up to be placed in that car... Let's just hope that whoever sponsors that car is willing to have the famed PETTY BLUE as the primary color on the car. NASCARinc does not care about anything but the almighty dollar, so they will never knock it down to a 2 car maximum, just doesnt make good business sense from a money perspective.
Daytona without Petty just would not be Daytona. If Ray Evernham has any sense in his head, he will push the 43 team to the forefront of his organization. Having the 9 and 43 as thier flagship teams will boost his marketing program and therefore boost the incoming flow of cash for becoming more competitive.
BTW anyone else notice that of the 12 chasers last year, there were only 3 teams? LOSE THE TOP 35 AND GIVE POINTS FOR QUALIFYING.. 43 for pole and 1 of last position..... make the teams work for every point they get. And in the event of qualifying being rained out, INVERT THE FIELD BY POINTS

1-13-2009 @ 3:25PM

Dave said...

I wonder what Mamma Petty would think about King Richard's association with Budweiser? I bet she'd be taking her wooden spoon to Richard's head and "The King" would be nothing more than a court jester by the time she got done with him!!!

1-14-2009 @ 11:11AM

chuck rosser said...

I agree that qualifying should be based on the speed to give more drivers a chance. Why should it be kept to the top 35?Also do away with the chase nad restrictor plates and let the drivers RACE FOR REAL. Then we will see the best like we used to.

1-15-2009 @ 9:43PM

possum pete said...

well, my spin on all this is this:.kyle, GOD LOVEHIM for his loss. i stil think adam would have been the best. kyle tryed, but i really think kyles career ended when adam died. this was long over due. no way should petty enteripeses been this bad for soem nay years. blameis to go around. igo back to the car 42, and th e races herein mobile, where all pettys came down, races and had fun. long past tho. good memories. i know the 43 ca r will return. i dont knwo who needed to be in it, but ill always wonder what the 43 car would have been with adam in it. GOD BLESS ADAM, RICHARD, KYLE, LINDA., PATTY. losing ason and grand son, cant be equated into a racing situation. one so young, so much life to give and saem with davey allison. i saw both of thes fine young men race, they were to be good.OUR SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST HAD OTEHR PLANS.

we will race again. all my best to gem petty enterprises.
43 car wil l reain , no matter who is in it