Post by milkman on Apr 1, 2008 15:40:49 GMT -5
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Richard Childress Racing will expand to four cars next season with General Mills as sponsor, a partnership that leaves Petty Enterprises searching for financial backing for its famed No. 43 for just the second time since 1972.
[+] EnlargeAP Photo/Rich Cohen
STP was the sponsor of the No. 43 car that Richard Petty drove to 200 victories. Now with General Mills moving on, the car needs a sponsor again.
General Mills has sponsored the No. 43 the past nine seasons, taking over when STP gave up its role as primary sponsor of the car Richard Petty drove to 200 victories. Bobby Labonte currently pilots the flagship Dodge.
But the car will need a sponsor for 2009, and perhaps even a driver.
Childress didn't say Tuesday who will drive his new No. 33 Chevrolet next season, but Labonte's deal with Petty Enterprises is up at the end of this year. As the 2000 Cup champion, Labonte is extremely attractive to Childress because his past champion status would automatically qualify the car for six races.
Robbie Loomis, executive vice president at Petty Enterprises, has previously said the team has offered Labonte an extension that the driver is considering. Loomis did not immediately return a phone call Tuesday from The Associated Press.
But Brian Moffitt, vice president of marketing at Petty, indicated the team will try to sell sponsorship of the No. 43 with Labonte as the driver.
"Bobby is one of the most marketable and popular drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series," Moffitt said in a statement. "He and his family share the ideals and values of the Petty organization and he remains a key component to the long-term future of Petty Enterprises.
"While there is substantial sponsorship interest in Bobby and Petty Enterprises, we will carefully consider our options to ensure the continuation of our rich tradition and to build on current momentum."
The announcement comes at the same time Kyle Petty has decided to climb out of the driver seat of the No. 45 Dodge this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway to allow Chad McCumbee a chance to qualify the car. Petty failed to qualify for last Sunday's race at Martinsville Speedway, and doesn't want to risk the car missing another race.
"Everyone at Petty Enterprises believes in Chad and his abilities," Kyle Petty said. "Texas gives us a chance to get another good look at Chad without throwing him to the wolves. He should be relaxed because he knows he can get the job done there."
McCumbee replaced Petty in the car twice last season while Petty took a summer hiatus to call races for TNT.
All this movement comes at a time when Petty Enterprises is exploring taking on a business partner to help the team compete with the superpowers in NASCAR.
"I am proud of our organization's rich tradition," seven-time Cup champion Richard Petty said. "We look at bringing in fresh resources and new partners as a real opportunity to further grow and improve the Petty organization. Especially those who share in the same core values of integrity, dedication and winning that have come to define Petty Enterprises."
Medallion Financial Group is reportedly in talks to partner with Petty through its newly formed entertainment/sports acquisition group.
"There has been speculation of our interest in Petty Enterprises for Sports Properties Acquisition Corp.," president Andrew Murstein said in a statement. "We are very interested in investing in NASCAR and the motorsports industry in general should the right deal come along."
Meanwhile, Childress has finally succeeded in putting together the fourth team he's coveted. He tried to sign both Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kyle Busch last season, and both drivers were presumably earmarked for a fourth team.
But neither driver signed with RCR, and sponsorship concerns hampered his movement toward a fourth car for this season.
General Mills now gives him the backing to field a new Chevrolet -- and Childress passed on resurrecting his famed No. 3 that has not been driven since Dale Earnhardt's death in the 2001 Daytona 500.
The ability to expand coincides with all three of his drivers ranking inside the top 12 in the standings, with Jeff Burton and Kevin Harvick sitting first and second in the Sprint Cup points. But Childress still must find a new primary sponsor for Burton's car, as AT&T must leave the series at the end of this season because of a conflict with NASCAR's series sponsor, Sprint.
GO BOBBY GO!!!!
[+] EnlargeAP Photo/Rich Cohen
STP was the sponsor of the No. 43 car that Richard Petty drove to 200 victories. Now with General Mills moving on, the car needs a sponsor again.
General Mills has sponsored the No. 43 the past nine seasons, taking over when STP gave up its role as primary sponsor of the car Richard Petty drove to 200 victories. Bobby Labonte currently pilots the flagship Dodge.
But the car will need a sponsor for 2009, and perhaps even a driver.
Childress didn't say Tuesday who will drive his new No. 33 Chevrolet next season, but Labonte's deal with Petty Enterprises is up at the end of this year. As the 2000 Cup champion, Labonte is extremely attractive to Childress because his past champion status would automatically qualify the car for six races.
Robbie Loomis, executive vice president at Petty Enterprises, has previously said the team has offered Labonte an extension that the driver is considering. Loomis did not immediately return a phone call Tuesday from The Associated Press.
But Brian Moffitt, vice president of marketing at Petty, indicated the team will try to sell sponsorship of the No. 43 with Labonte as the driver.
"Bobby is one of the most marketable and popular drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series," Moffitt said in a statement. "He and his family share the ideals and values of the Petty organization and he remains a key component to the long-term future of Petty Enterprises.
"While there is substantial sponsorship interest in Bobby and Petty Enterprises, we will carefully consider our options to ensure the continuation of our rich tradition and to build on current momentum."
The announcement comes at the same time Kyle Petty has decided to climb out of the driver seat of the No. 45 Dodge this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway to allow Chad McCumbee a chance to qualify the car. Petty failed to qualify for last Sunday's race at Martinsville Speedway, and doesn't want to risk the car missing another race.
"Everyone at Petty Enterprises believes in Chad and his abilities," Kyle Petty said. "Texas gives us a chance to get another good look at Chad without throwing him to the wolves. He should be relaxed because he knows he can get the job done there."
McCumbee replaced Petty in the car twice last season while Petty took a summer hiatus to call races for TNT.
All this movement comes at a time when Petty Enterprises is exploring taking on a business partner to help the team compete with the superpowers in NASCAR.
"I am proud of our organization's rich tradition," seven-time Cup champion Richard Petty said. "We look at bringing in fresh resources and new partners as a real opportunity to further grow and improve the Petty organization. Especially those who share in the same core values of integrity, dedication and winning that have come to define Petty Enterprises."
Medallion Financial Group is reportedly in talks to partner with Petty through its newly formed entertainment/sports acquisition group.
"There has been speculation of our interest in Petty Enterprises for Sports Properties Acquisition Corp.," president Andrew Murstein said in a statement. "We are very interested in investing in NASCAR and the motorsports industry in general should the right deal come along."
Meanwhile, Childress has finally succeeded in putting together the fourth team he's coveted. He tried to sign both Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kyle Busch last season, and both drivers were presumably earmarked for a fourth team.
But neither driver signed with RCR, and sponsorship concerns hampered his movement toward a fourth car for this season.
General Mills now gives him the backing to field a new Chevrolet -- and Childress passed on resurrecting his famed No. 3 that has not been driven since Dale Earnhardt's death in the 2001 Daytona 500.
The ability to expand coincides with all three of his drivers ranking inside the top 12 in the standings, with Jeff Burton and Kevin Harvick sitting first and second in the Sprint Cup points. But Childress still must find a new primary sponsor for Burton's car, as AT&T must leave the series at the end of this season because of a conflict with NASCAR's series sponsor, Sprint.
GO BOBBY GO!!!!
