Petty, Yates Teams to Combine Forces

RICHMOND, Va. -- Two of the biggest names in NASCAR -- Richard Petty Motorsports and Yates Racing -- announced Thursday they have signed a letter-of-intent to merge for the 2010 season and will field a four-car Ford team under the Richard Petty Motorsports (RPM) banner.

Current Yates driver Paul Menard and current RPM drivers Kasey Kahne, Elliott Sadler and A.J. Allmendinger will be the drivers.

"This is a pretty big deal for us," Richard Petty said. "We've talked with a lot of folks, but in the end it came down to the success the Gilletts (co-owner George Gillett and his sons) and and I think we can achieve with Ford Racing.

"There are lots of details still left to be ironed out so we don't have a lot of answers for anyone right now. We'll be working on all that in the coming days, weeks and months, but we do intend to have everything in place before the start of next season. I've won races with Ford and plan to again."

"I am very pleased that Richard Petty Motorsports has made the decision to switch to Ford," said Brian Wolfe, director of Ford North America Motorsports. "They had choices to consider other than Ford and it's gratifying to us that they have enough faith in the Ford Motor Company and what we're doing to make the switch."

"What's also really cool to me is the chance to have someone with the class and legacy of Richard Petty involved with Ford. Combine that with the chance to work with the Gillett family, who we have great respect for, and add some great drivers to the Ford camp, well, it's hard not to be excited about this opportunity.''

The Petty team's switch from Dodges to Fords leaves only Roger Penske's three-car operation in the Dodge ranks. and dispels season-long rumors that RPM would be fielding Toyotas in 2010.

George Gillett bought majority control of what was then Evernham Motorsports in 2007 (the company was renamed Gillett Evernham Motorsports after the deal was completed). Team founder Ray Evernham eventually sold most of his interest to Gillett in 2008 and relinquished almost all involvement with the organization -- which again changed names to Gillett Motorsports -- at that point.

Gillett and the legendary Petty joined forces following the 2008 season to form (and rename yet again) Richard Petty Motorsports. Evernham remains a small minority shareholder, but is not active in the organization's operation.

Thursday's news effectively means that Reed Sorenson, who moved to RPM this season to drive the No. 43, and former Cup champ Bobby Labonte, who moved from the former Petty Enterprises to Yates Racing after last season, will both once again be free agents at the end of this season. It also leaves the status of Eric Darnell, who will replace Labonte in the No. 96 Ford for six of the remaining 11 Cup races on the schedule in what was considered somewhat of a tryout on the Cup series for the young driver, uncertain for next season.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

9-10-2009 @ 8:03PM

CJ said...

Weird did not see this coming, with the bad split of Sadler and Yates Racing where he ditched them for Evernham with a year left on his contract which he had wiggle room in his contract to do that, and Kahne and Ford's bad relationship before, as they sued him for leaving to go to Dodge, and Kahne had a developmental deal with Yates Racing long ago too. I say look to see four new drivers at the RPM fold next year, as all four drivers contracts are set to expire after the 2010 season. Kahne and Bud will go to Hendrick to replace Gordon who will retire and Dupont who cant afford the outrageous rising sponsorship cost, and Sadler goes to RCR to replace either Harvick or Mears which was rumored a few weeks ago, and Paul Menard and Daddy's money goes to Robby Gordon Motorsports and he either starts a second team or replaces Robby Gordon, but Menard already sponsors alot of Robby's Cup races anyways. And AJ just sux and JGR was interested in him earlier this year, just as Ganassi had interest last year, and he could end up at one of those rides. Also, Bud and Kahne could also end up at Stewart Haas as well.

9-11-2009 @ 4:36AM

pnut166 said...

With all of the newfound resources @ RPM, due to the merger, etc. - why are they hanging on to this roster of clowns???? Kahne is the only decent one in the bunch! Sadler = never lived up to potential, Menard = potential? What potential??? Allmendinger = AJ who? Yet they let Labonte go. Makes no sense. Why Kasey has hung in there this long, I don`t know. He could be a true championship contender if with the right team, and every team in the garage knows that and would love to have him.

9-11-2009 @ 7:13AM

illsell4u said...

Bud going to Hendrick? If they were going to do that would they not have done so with Jr?

9-10-2009 @ 9:49PM

Mark Lamoureux said...

What?

9-10-2009 @ 10:05PM

mbsenlick said...

Both teams suck

9-10-2009 @ 10:57PM

darrellchampion said...

At least Petty has the nads to stay away from the Tucking Foyotas. We need more Americans like him.

9-10-2009 @ 10:58PM

sherrillw43 said...

All I can say is good damn luck Richard ! I rarely watch NASCAR "racing" (if you want to call it that ) any more... As Richard would say , here's the deal ....... NASCAR SUCKS

9-11-2009 @ 12:24AM

charger383 said...

I think I will now be done with NASCAR.

9-11-2009 @ 12:25AM

ghnc18 said...

Labonte again screwed out of a ride by the Pettys

9-11-2009 @ 12:42AM

hafttwo said...

better ford than the japs

9-11-2009 @ 1:42AM

anzajoe said...

WHOOPEYDOOO, I was glad to see RICH.PRETTY in victory lane when KKK won in SONOMA while ago and ATLANTA , but when it comes to business RP has merged with another loser.
And GILLETTE, should stick it with disposable shavers and BIC etc.
In addition they dumped DODGE TRASH and acquired FORD JUNK.
Obviously it's antiamerican to R. PRETTY/GILLETTE to switch to a TOYOTA and a no no for GM.
Once KKK leaves RPM, it might take another 10 years to see RPM in victory lane again and next year either DANICA PATRICK or KKK are going to land at STEW/HARSH for sure.Maybe both but that's wishfull thinking.
works for me...NZCR14.

9-11-2009 @ 2:54AM

Big Bad John said...

I was hoping for this Ford, Petty, and Yates. I wondered if Petty was still the true American that he is and always have been.He chosed a true and really only true Ameican Car Company left Ford. Ford is the only only the true American Car Company left.They are the only American car co that owns foreign car companies such as Mazda,and Volvo. They stood firm when things were bad and now they look like they will come out of the recession in good shape. I hope that they can and will run Toyota off the race track.NASCAR keeps wanting to know why the amount of fans keep droppin?.I think one word is the answer Toyota.

9-11-2009 @ 7:32AM

Kim said...

I too am baffled by the roster list of drivers that will be kept on with this merger. Kasey Kahne has definite true potential. I have always liked Elliot Sadler, but he hasn't put up the stats that I expected from him. He has not been competetive since he moved and quit driving the M&M car he used to wheel. As for Menard, are you serious? He is a nobody as far as stats are concerned. And AJ Allmindinger, whom I affectionately refer to as "A.J., I'm a dinger," is a true ding bat on the track.

CJ, as always your comments are insightful and interesting. We will see. I too believe Jeff Gordon will retire within the next couple of years to focus on his family and to probably save his back. A doctor, (I am confident) has probably told Jeff by now that he can't continue to race due to his back issues and needs to stop fairly quickly.

Kim

9-11-2009 @ 1:39PM

Good luck on this one. I am not sure what they think Yates is bringing to the table on this one. And for Richard Petty, I hope he is stroking the hell out of Kasey Kahne because if he does leave after next year they are toast. Hopefully he is telling Kahne to stick with him and he will bring in at least one more chase capable driver to build up the organization.

9-11-2009 @ 3:18PM

MIKE in trying to sell this 1 for you again, i should say
YATES is only bringing more grief,more headaches,more junk equipment, more disaster to RPM.
In addition they are in the transition from DRIVING ON DOOMED GASPING ENGINES aka DODGE to FOUND ON ROAD DEAD
aka FORD.In the quest of PRETENCE to drive american made brand, THEY WILL BE IN REALITY DRIVING MADE IN MEXICO AND CANADA VEHICLES like the fords FUSION , TAURUS etc
not to mention PLENTY of other FORD VEHICLES MADE IN SOUTHEAST ASIA and RICHEY PRETTY knows so better than i do. It is more american to drive a MADE IN USA TOYOTA/HONDA than GARBAGE like FORD/DODGE.
However the nation of sheeps (SAVING THE SMARTER ONCE),
LOVES TO BE COACHED BY THE SHEPARD, LOL.
works for me...

9-11-2009 @ 10:20PM

Bob said...

*Aah, the argument that just won't go away: better to be loyal to a company with an American NAME that mostly feeds foreigners, than to support a company with a "furrin" name that builds most of the cars that they sell here right here in America. What's more important--a hollow devotion to someone who's been ripping you off for decades, or backing someone who keeps bringing more and more good-paying jobs TO America? It makes more sense to drape the Stars and Stripes on a Toyota than it does a Ford, GM, or Dodge. The sad part is, their inclusion probably IS one of the reasons for NASCAR's drop in fans, because there are so many people in this country who are scared to death of change, and just hide behind their claims of "patriotism" and "loyalty" to stay all safe and warm.

9-12-2009 @ 12:03AM

Greg said...

Little John,
You do indeed need to get your information correct before posting, where does it say that Ford Owns Mazda??? This is FALSE. Ford had 34% interest in Mazda, because Ford wanted the Japanese ENGINEERS as well as Volvo to work on designing and building new platforms. Ford in return help with the marketing and advertising for Mazda. Since you do not know the automotive business Ford now has only 14% interest BUT it will now have to do without the Mazda/Volvo engineers. All of Ford personel was told to LEAVE!
Thank God as my wife told me that these group of people were the biggest assholes to ever grace the earth. She prays for the company to fold (They will lose business due to poor development cars for the future)
Again, Ford NEVER OWNED MAZDA!
I don't care who told you this or/and where you read this. YOU NEED TO GET YOUR INFO STRAIGHT.

Greg

9-12-2009 @ 12:30AM

George said...

"As for Menard, are you serious? He is a nobody as far as stats are concerned."

Ah, but as long as daddy keeps paying for his sponsorship, Petty/Yates will LOVE to take him on because (1) it's guaranteed money, and (2) that's one less car they have to worry about when it comes to lining up sponsorship. The fact that Menard is nothing more than a glorified field-filler doesn't bother them in the least.

Truth be told, Menard reminds me of those guys, and we've all seen them, that show up at sporting events dressed up head-to-toe in their favorite team's uniform: Just because you dress up like a driver and look like a driver doesn't make you a driver....