New Petty team signs A.J. Allmendinger
January 28, 2009
MOORESVILLE, N.C. (AP) -A.J. Allmendinger will drive the No. 44 Dodge for Richard Petty Motorsports in the season-opening Budweiser Shootout and at least the first eight NASCAR Sprint Cup races this season.
The team, formed from the merger of Petty Enterprises and Gillett Evernham Motorsports, wants to put together a sponsorship package that would guarantee the 27-year-old Allmendinger's participation in the rest of the 2009 races and the 2010 season.
``This is pretty awesome news for me,'' said Allmendinger, who also will compete in the July Cup race at Daytona. ``I just want to get behind the wheel of a race car and race.''
This will be Allmendinger's third NASCAR season. He was part of the GEM team for the last five races of 2008.
Richard Petty said Allmendinger has plenty of potential.
``I went testing with him a few weeks ago,'' Petty said. ``When he climbed out of the car I think he went to everyone working on the car asking them questions and wanting to know what was going on. That's the kind of thing you want out of your driver.''
Allmendinger joins RPM teammates Kasey Kahne, Elliott Sadler and Reed Sorenson. Sammy Johns will serve as crew chief on the No. 44.