[WestCoastGal]

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ht_UOoGZdQ9J9HJjo4y5ZAOXnXhAD95QFD2O0

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.

[tubebender]

Looks like we have seen the best of times and could be facing the worst of times in all walks of life. Our Bayshore Mall just lost another anchor plus some of the lesser stores inside and General Growth itself faces $34 BILLION debt for it's malls across the country.

Auto repair has always been a haven in a downturn as motorist generally spent heavily on repairs rather than buy new vehicles but not this time.

I wonder if things would have been different for Richard if his Grandson Adam had not been killed...

[SouthTexas]

Richard Petty Motorsports (RPM)

DUH! Wonder why it's never been thought of before?