tool name
closePetty team in merger talks
By David Poole
dpoole@charlotteobserver.com
Friday, Dec. 05, 2008
Petty Enterprises vice president for racing operations Robbie Loomis said Bobby Labonte is “on track” toward racing the No.43 Dodges in 2009 amid reports the team will merge with Gillett Evernham Motorsports to form one four-car Sprint Cup operation.
Loomis said the team has been in talks about possible mergers with other Cup teams and that those talks are continuing this week.
But David Zucker, who became chief operating officer of Petty Enterprises when Boston Ventures bought majority ownership of the Petty team this year, said an SI.com report that the Petty shop in Mooresville will close its doors was “not accurate.”
Zucker told the Associated Press he would not comment on “rumors and speculation” about a potential deal with Gillett Evernham.
“I feel very confident in saying that everything is moving forward in our sponsorship drive,” Loomis said. “We are on track for the 43 car, but the second car is up in the air.”
Chad McCumbee is under contract to drive the second Petty car, which was going to use the No.44 instead of the No.45 that Kyle Petty used. But the team is still trying to lock down full sponsorship for Labonte and the No.43.
“There is a lot of discussion going on … but the 43 car and Richard Petty will be at the track next year,” Loomis said.
“We're currently working in the shop that we're in, preparing cars for next season, and we plan on racing from right there where we're at. But things can change.”
Loomis did say that he's found his focus changing in recent weeks.
“It has gone from make every decision based on what I thought would make us more competitive to now wanting to do what is best to keep the most of our employees employed that we can,” he said.