By Reid Spencer — Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service
NEW YORK — A report by SI.com (Sports Illustrated) that Petty Enterprises will not return to NASCAR Sprint Cup racing in 2009 but instead will merge with Gillett Evernham Motorsports in a move that will make GEM a four-car team, was described as “not accurate” to The Associated Press by Petty Enterprises CEO David Zucker.
“We’re not going to comment on rumors and speculation,” Zucker told the AP on Thursday, in a story that cited unnamed sources as the basis for its report of merger talks between the two organizations.
Gillett Evernham spokesperson Drew Brown said the company declined to comment on speculation about the reported merger.
In 2008, Petty Enterprises fielded the No. 43 Dodge driven by Bobby Labonte and the No. 45 Dodge driven primarily by Kyle Petty and Chad McCumbee. The Associated Press report indicated the vaunted No. 43 car, driven to seven Cup championships by Richard Petty, would become part of the GEM roster, which also includes the No. 9 of Kasey Kahne, the No. 19 of Elliott Sadler and the No. 10 of Reed Sorenson, who will join GEM for the 2009 season.
“Obviously, they’re probably the biggest family name in NASCAR,” two-time Cup champion Tony Stewart said Thursday in response to a question about the report. “Obviously, it’s a huge change in our sport, and I’m kind of digesting it now that I’ve heard about it.
“I guess it just shows you how delicate the economy is right now and how it’s affecting racing.”
Sponsorship issues have clouded the future of Petty Enterprises, which announced a partnership with the equity firm Boston Ventures in June. With General Mills leaving Petty Enterprises for Richard Childress Racing in 2009, Petty doesn’t have full-season sponsorships in place for either car.
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