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"This is a new era for NASCAR," said Ray Evernham, a minority owner in Gillett Evernham Motorsports, which announced last week it was merging with Petty Holdings. "The things that are happening today have the potential to mold what the sport is going to be 25 years from now."
Some of NASCAR's most storied names and teams have been among the casualties because they couldn't secure sponsorship for 2009. Most teams generate 75 to 80 percent of their revenue from sponsorship.
Petty Enterprises, a 60-year-old business started by Richard Petty's father, Lee, will cease to exist as the iconic No. 43 car merges into the operation at GEM.
Dale Earnhardt Inc., founded by one of the sport's most legendary figures some 20 years ago, is losing its racing identity to partner with Chip Ganassi Racing in the formation of Earnhardt Ganassi Racing.
Two other teams, Hall of Fame Racing and Yates Racing, have forged an alignment that is expected to include sponsorship from Ask.com, one of the few companies with new money to spend in the sport. (read more)
Many more teams are working on less formal technical partnerships that will enable them to cut costs by sharing engines, testing equipment and other million-dollar resources.
Practically every team is in bed with somebody else, assuring that the Sprint Cup garage in 2009 won't look anything like it did in 2008.
"Most folks believe that things will turn around, so they're looking for ways to just avoid shutting down completely," said Steve Newmark, an attorney for Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson, a law firm in Charlotte, N.C., that represents several race teams. "The way they do that is to look for efficiencies, whether that's through a joint venture, a merger, whatever."

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CONCORD, N.C. -- Before the marriage with Gillett Evernham Motorsports could become a reality, Richard Petty had a list of demands that had to be met. Strange that a man getting bought out would be in a position to make demands, but he is Richard Petty, and in NASCAR circles he still carries an almost unparalleled degree of cachet. So he wanted the car numbers from his old shop, the 43 and 44, and he didn't want them associated with alcohol. He wanted a place for the Petty blue color, and positions for a few of his best people. And most of all he wanted the name. He had to have the name. Because for the Pettys, the name is everything.
If George Gillett had resisted? "We wouldn't have gotten to the second step," says the King, smiling behind trademark sunglasses and beneath a spotless white cowboy hat.

The official announcement of the merger between GEM and Petty Enterprises, which had been a wholly-owned team in NASCAR's premier division since the sport's inception six decades ago, came earlier this month. But Monday, the opening day of the NASCAR Sprint media tour hosted by Lowe's Motor Speedway, was when the rechristened organization was presented to the world -- quite clumsily, actually, when Foster Gillett accidently knocked the veil off the sign proclaiming Richard Petty Motorsports. Same colors as the old Petty Enterprises, nearly the same logo, same prominent last name. Just who was buying whom again?




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TONY STEWART TO KICK OFF '09 WITH HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS TWO-TIME CUP CHAMPION TO DRIVE NATIONWIDE RACE AT DAYTONA |
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CONCORD, N.C.
(Jan. 19, 2009) - Two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Tony
Stewart will attempt to qualify a No. 80 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet
prepared by Hendrick Motorsports for the Feb. 14 Nationwide Series race
at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway. Stewart, the defending winner of the Camping World 300, has won the season-opening event three times - twice with owner Kevin Harvick (2005 and 2006) and once with Joe Gibbs (2008). Should he qualify, the race will mark Stewart's first-ever start for car owner Rick Hendrick. The effort will be led by 2003 Nationwide Series champion crew chief Lance McGrew. "After winning the season-opening Nationwide Series race at Daytona three times, we're going to try and get another one, this time for Rick," said Stewart, who has seven career Nationwide Series victories. "Hopefully we can go back-to-back for a second time and put the HendrickCars.com Chevrolet in Victory Lane. Rick and I have been friends for years, so it would mean a lot to me to get a win for him." As a car owner, Hendrick has 13 total NASCAR victories at Daytona, including three in the Nationwide Series. He has won the prestigious Daytona 500 six times. "Tony is one of the best drivers in the world," Hendrick said. "We know how terrific he is at Daytona, so I told the guys to build him a fast car and let him do what he does best. He's a great friend, and it's going to be fun to see him drive for Hendrick Motorsports for the first time." The best and quickest way to purchase a car online, HendrickCars.com features more than $90 million in used-car inventory and the largest selection of manufacturer-certified vehicles in the nation. Customers can browse more than 5,000 cars of all makes and models from the 80 Hendrick Automotive Group franchises nationwide. Each comes with a free CARFAX vehicle history report. "We chose the No. 80 to represent all of our stores," said Hendrick, also the chairman of Charlotte-based Hendrick Automotive Group. "This is something our folks can get excited about and rally around, and it's a great way to promote HendrickCars.com. It's become a premier destination for online car buying, and we're committed to making it a world-class experience for our customers." For more information, visit www.HendrickCars.com. |





