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From the Marbles

Fri Dec 05, 2008 8:31 am EST

The dance goes on: Petty, Gillett Evernham in merger talks

By Jay Busbee

Another day, another story of a racing team in flux. The AP is reporting that Petty Enterprises is in talks to merge with Gillett Evernham Racing. This after SI.com reported -- in news that Petty deemed inaccurate -- that Petty's top operations will not return in 2009.

Petty has no full-time sponsor signed up for 2009, but with Bobby Labonte and Chad McCumbee on board. Kyle Petty isn't expected to have a significant role with the team next year. Under the merger plan, the 43 car would become part of the Gillett Evernham stable, while the 45 car would vanish into the ether. (Not literally, of course, even though that would be cool.)

Naturally, nobody's saying much of anything. But the AP says that Gillett Evernham has been in frequent talks all over the garage, trying to move up to the maximum four-car limit. According to the AP, Gillett has talked with the teams of Bill Davis, Michael Waltrip, and Robby Gordon at various points throughout the year, as well as Ganassi.

Gracious. It's like some kind of horrible high school dance where the cool kids (Gibbs, Hendrick, Roush) hang in the corner and climb all over the cheerleaders and the geeks try to hook up for some awkward, asthmatic love. Regardless of what happens, it looks like Petty Enterprises isn't long for this world in its current form, and that's a shame no matter what else happens.

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37 Comments

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  1. Moon
    1. Posted by Moon Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:14 pm EDT

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    I thought Petty had already done merged with a team, I thought it was GE already. I guess I was wrong.
    It will be a sad day in NASCAR when Petty Enterprises goes into the great beyond. Even thou the last couple of years they just have not been there, it still sucks they will not be around for many years to come. I do believe that alot of the issue is they did not keep up with all the changes that have come to NASCAR. You cannot keep doing the same thing that worked back in 50's, 60's, and 70's, and make it work in the present.
    Thou I am not sure they are a match with Gillett Evernham Racing. But that is just my opinion.
    And I hate that Bobby does not have a sponsor next year. I love Bobby Labonte. I think he is a great driver, contrary to his performance, I really do think he is a great driver.
  2. miss priss
    2. Posted by miss priss Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:06 pm EDT

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    Yep we're close to losing Petty just like DEI
  3. FarmerJ
    3. Posted by FarmerJ Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:14 pm EDT

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    There aer new merger talks with petty every week. Don't care one way or the other about petty organization, but would hate to see the only Texas born driver (Bobby Bonte) not have a ride next year.
    Isn't GE suein robby gordon, or am i mixing soemthing up?
  4. Tammy
    4. Posted by Tammy Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:55 pm EDT

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    Man, who would have thought there'd come a day when Petty wasn't a "cool kid"
  5. Moon
    5. Posted by Moon Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:14 pm EDT

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    Well DEI going away is a given. At least untill they get that woman out of there.
    She will regret the day that she let Jr. go. She should have just given into him, and given him a share in the company. But she was to proud or stubborn, or both. And it will be her down fall.
  6. FarmerJ
    6. Posted by FarmerJ Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:14 pm EDT

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    yall think richard will be buried in that hat? what if they auctioned off the kings lid and kyles ponytail. hahaha, for charity of course
  7. FarmerJ
    7. Posted by FarmerJ Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:14 pm EDT

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    car 45? Boom.....Outta Here
  8. ralph c
    8. Posted by ralph c Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:27 pm EDT

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    Hard to believe the 43 being a GEM Car next year with Evernham gone I guess it could become GPM :-)
    Sounds like a Formula I team :-)
    (Just joking of course but I hear Honda are looking to sell up ! )
  9. FarmerJ
    9. Posted by FarmerJ Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:14 pm EDT

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    Honda backed out of F1, kinda puts a dampner on the Honda in NASCAR talk.
    but it will be strange to see the 43 at GE. i bet they change the # though
  10. SportsFan
    10. Posted by SportsFan Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:46 pm EDT

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    Will GM, Ford, or Dodge be around next year? Can't imagine hearing this at the start of the race "Gentlemen, start your Toyotas"
  11. FarmerJ
    11. Posted by FarmerJ Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:14 pm EDT

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    dodge will be the 1st to go
  12. art_tidesco
    12. Posted by art_tidesco Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:58 pm EDT

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    Dodge has to be the weakest link, I can't see the Bow Ties taking Dodge over with all this talk of the cash crises at Cheverolet :-(
    My guess is next year we will have a field of 43 Kia's & Huyundai's if we are really really lucky !
  13. FarmerJ
    13. Posted by FarmerJ Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:14 pm EDT

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    kias and huyundais, hahahaha. what about the Daewoos, they don't want any of that.
  14. SportsFan
    14. Posted by SportsFan Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:46 pm EDT

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    Do they still make Yugos?
  15. FarmerJ
    15. Posted by FarmerJ Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:14 pm EDT

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    maybe a full field of VW sherados
  16. art_tidesco
    16. Posted by art_tidesco Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:58 pm EDT

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    SF apparently the last Yugo was completed on the 11th Nov 2008 !
    So I guess they must be victims of the Kredit Krunch :-(
    Daewoo was a part of GM Farmer so I guess Dale and Tony will be spared that particular embarrassment :-)
  17. SportsFan
    17. Posted by SportsFan Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:46 pm EDT

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    I just looked at the 2008 owners points, from 14th place down there are going to be a lot of changes next year.
  18. art_tidesco
    18. Posted by art_tidesco Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:58 pm EDT

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    I guess a field of 43 Hindustan's for the Cup and Tata's for the trucks could be interesting and would check a few boxes in Nascar's drive for diversity programme !
  19. art_tidesco
    19. Posted by art_tidesco Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:58 pm EDT

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    #17 Hi SF that is pretty much always the case I thought :-)
    But your right plenty of those teams have got zero sponsorship :-(
  20. art_tidesco
    20. Posted by art_tidesco Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:58 pm EDT

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    Front Row Motorsport could easily be rebranded as Back Row Motorsports unfortunately the BRM initials were largely laughed at in Formula 1 many eons ago :-)
  21. art_tidesco
    21. Posted by art_tidesco Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:58 pm EDT

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    Time for me to get busy with a dremel BBS :-)
  22. SportsFan
    22. Posted by SportsFan Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:46 pm EDT

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    Hey Art, yeah, i was referring the the mergers, owner changes, etc. I wonder if some of those 1 & 2 car teams will even be around.
  23. art_tidesco
    23. Posted by art_tidesco Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:58 pm EDT

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    Looks pretty unlikely SF JGR Roush Hendrick and GEM should be good for 16 or 17 entries between them and Red Bull good for two more but then the picture gets fuzzy two for Waltrip a couple for Yates two for Chip n Dale Penske looks good for three Stewart Hass has 1 and a half sponsorships that make 27 to 28 carsa and the rest will be made of Part timers ???
    Yikes hope Uncle Bill knows what he is doing at Nascar Villa's :-)
  24. art_tidesco
    24. Posted by art_tidesco Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:58 pm EDT

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    Hi Sweet Seventeen are you skiing or lurking today ?
  25. kinggeorge
    25. Posted by kinggeorge Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:51 pm EDT

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    Farmer--Gem and Robby Gordon settled their suit out of court a couple months ago.
    Moon---Your right that you can't conduct business like it's 1960 anymore and Petty was to late to realize that.
    The Big 3 automakers are finding that out also but they are being undermined by a greedy, self-centered, unrealistic workers union (UAW) that looks like they are willing to bankrupt the major auto makers in this country and cause all their members to loose their jobs. Ford, GM, and Chrysler are incapable of turning a profit and loose money with every vehicle they sell. Nothing will change until the UAW is busted and a reasonable wage can be negotiated to build profitable cars and trucks.

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