A.J. Allmendinger's late-season, five-race stint with Gillett Evernham Motorsports has earned him a full-time ride -- at the expense of Elliott Sadler.
Allmendinger's business manager, Tara Ragan, said Saturday night she expects Allmendinger to soon complete a deal to drive for GEM next season and replace Sadler in the No. 19 Dodge.
Sadler
Sadler
"Yes, we're in the final stages of negotiations with Gillett Evernham," Ragan said. "I think things will be sorted out within the next week. Nothing's done till it's done -- knock on wood -- but I think we're all eager to make that work, and I think it's safe to say we're in the fine details and the fine-tuning of that.
"I don't foresee any problems coming up, and I don't think they do, either. But is it signed, sealed and delivered? No, not quite, but hopefully it will be in the next few days."
Sadler signed a multiyear contract extension with the organization in May. How his departure will be orchestrated remains unclear.
GEM spokesperson Drew Brown declined comment.
Sadler joined Evernham Motorsports midway through the 2006 season after leaving Robert Yates Racing. He posted a top-10 finish in his first race, but has had only 11 top-10s in the past 85 starts.
He has three wins in 357 starts with 18 top-five finishes and 63 top-10s.
At the time he signed the extension, Sadler said, "This is the place where I want to race. I think what we are building here is special and something other drivers and crew members envy."
Allmendinger made 17 starts as a rookie in 2007. He drove for Red Bull through Kansas this season before being released in favor of Scott Speed. Allmendinger made one start for Michael Waltrip Racing before his five-race stint with GEM.
He has two top-10 finishes in his 44-race career, including one, ironically, in his final race for Red Bull. Allmendinger won the Sprint Showdown to earn a berth in the All-Star Race in May.
After his release from Red Bull Racing in late September, Allmendinger competed in the final five 2008 races for GEM, posting an average finish of 16.4 during that stretch, compared with an average finish for Sadler of 31.8.
Ragan believes Allmendinger's performance in the final five races -- after replacing Patrick Carpentier in the No. 10 Dodge -- caused GEM to reevaluate its plans for 2009. Nor did it hurt that Allmendinger got along famously with Kasey Kahne, who drives the No. 9 Dodge for GEM.
"They asked A.J. to do a job, and he exceeded their expectations," Ragan said.
GEM is currently in merger talks with Petty Enterprises. If the teams merge, the No. 43 has an open seat; Bobby Labonte was released by Petty on Dec. 11.
However, considering that GEM could have put Allmendinger -- or Sadler -- in the No. 43 casts a shadow on how the merger talks are going.
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service contributed to this report.
Bout time they got rid of this stiff,guy has done nothing the last few years but cause countless wrecks that always involved innocent drivers caught up in his mess.
I agree, he's a cool guy but I think he is gonna end up in Nationwide or the broadcast booth. He has stunk up the joint since moving from Yates