Richard Petty's name survives team merger
By MIKE HARRIS – 1 hour ago
CONCORD, N.C. (AP) — Amid all the economic turmoil in NASCAR, fans can take some comfort knowing Richard Petty is still around.
Petty, stock car's king and at 71 still the most recognizable face in racing, will have a presence 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. The announcement was made Monday during the first day of the annual NASCAR Sprint Media Tour hosted by Lowe's Motor Speedway.
Petty and GEM principal owner George Gillett agreed to merge their teams this month in a partnership that keeps the sponsor-strapped Pettys in racing. Reed Sorenson will drive Petty's famed No. 43 Dodge for RPM this season. Petty's No. 44 Dodge will be run by A.J. Allmendinger in at least the first five races of the season as the team attempts to find more sponsorship.
Those two drivers join GEM holdovers Kasey Kahne and Elliott Sadler, who both have full-time rides.