Petty/Yates merge will run Fords

[Jonesi]

http://www.nascar.com/2009/news/head.../headlines/cup

[Lee Roy]

Cool. I can remember Petty enterprises running Fords in 1969.

http://jayski.com/cupnews.htm#news43thu

Richard Petty Motorsports to run Fords in 2010, merge w/Yates: Richard Petty Motorsports and Yates Racing announced today they have signed a letter of intent to merge operations in time for the 2010 season. The four-car team will race Fords under the Richard Petty Motorsports banner.
Richard Petty: "This is a pretty big deal for us. We're thrilled to partner with Ford. We've talked with a lot of folks, but in the end it came down to the success the Gilletts and I think we can achieve with Ford Racing. Right now this deal is real new. 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."
Team Managing Partner Foster Gillett: "Richard and Kasey (Kahne) showed us Sunday night in Atlanta that they like winning quite a bit and Ford is going to provide the support that we need to go to victory lane more often. If you are going to compete with the other teams in this sport you need a lot of support. We bring a lot to this relationship as well. We've won twice this season and the power of Richard Petty is hard to beat, plus we have the support of some of the biggest names in corporate America."
Yates Racing Co-owner Max Jones: "This is certainly a great opportunity for both Yates Racing as well as Ford Racing. I have had a long-term relationship with Ford and look forward to continuing that relationship at Richard Petty Motorsports. Over the coming weeks we will continue to work with Ford and Richard Petty to lay out the best plan for Paul Menard and all of the employees at Yates Racing. We will continue to field both the #98 and #96 Ford Fusions for the remainder of the season and look forward to continued success on the track with Paul, Bobby Labonte and Erik Darnell."
Yates Racing Co-owner Doug Yates: "This plan is clearly in the best interest of the Ford Racing community. On a personal level, I am excited about the opportunity to focus my full energy on building Ford horsepower. We look forward to working with Richard Petty Motorsports to produce power second to none. There are many details to be worked out with Richard Petty Motorsports and as we finalize those details we will keep everyone informed."
Director of Ford North America Motorsports Brian Wolfe: "I am very pleased that Richard Petty Motorsports has made the decision to switch to Ford for the 2010 season. 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. We believe we can provide them with superior analytical tools and powertrain, and we will work with them closely on the technical front to help them become even more competitive than they are. What's also really cool to me is the chance to have someone with the class and the 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."

[Jonesi]

They are going with the drivers that are signed for next year and the one that brings a fully sponsored car:
#9 Kasey Kahne, Bud & Allstate signed for next year.
#19 Elliott Sadler, Best Buy, Stanley & McDs some sponsorship is thru '10
#44 AJ Allmendinger, obviously Dodge Dealers sponsorship goes away, don't know about Valvoline.
#98? Paul Menard Brings Menards sponsorship which can attract other building/tool sponsorship.

#43 Reed Sorenson only signed thru '09, Someone will get this number.
#96 Bobby Labonte only signed thru '09, HOF goes where? Ask.com has 5 year partial sponsor deal, but is it with Yates or HOF?

#26 5th car from Roush no place to be transfered to, so I guess shut down.

This leaves Ford with a solid 8 car, 2 team setup.
This leaves Dodge with just 3 car Penske team, and ?

[Jag_Warrior]

Has there been an announcement that the Dodge Dealers sponsorship is going away? Seems like they'd want to maintain a presence.

[Jonesi]

Has there been an announcement that the Dodge Dealers sponsorship is going away? Seems like they'd want to maintain a presence.

No, I meant that it's a safe bet they won't pay to advertise on a Petty Ford.

[Jag_Warrior]

Ah, yeah.

[call_me_andrew]

Where does this leave Ernie Elliott?

[nigelred5]

Where does this leave Ernie Elliott?

i don't know, but hopefully workin with Doug Yates concentrating on building some bad a$$ Fords???

[Jonesi]

More of a buyout than merger.
http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/nascar...ory?id=4466212

[Mark in Oshawa]

This just aint right....Petty and Mopar go together like Peanut Butter and Jam.

AS for Ernie Elliot, he may be looking for work. Yates racing will all but disappear inthe larger organization, BUT Doug Yates is going to be running the engine shop and apparently the boys making those potent R6's that Kasey has employed to great effect will be looking for work. I hope there is room for Ernie with the Yate's crew....the Fords need more oooph...