Rumors of Petty and Gillett Merging - Can It Be?

The Associated Press is reporting that Petty Enterprises (PE) is in the chat mode with Gillett Evernham Motorsports (GEM) to merge. Of course, sources are saying don't tell them I said it, since they're still formulating the business plan.

And the plan is to move the No 43 car into this merged entity, giving the new team a 4-car effort for 2009.

Right now, this makes a bit of sense in the logic department if you recall that Sports Illustrated was saying the Petty Enterprises isn't returning to the field in 2009, but how accurate are these speculations across the board?

Additionally, I have to wonder just what benefit this merge brings to GEM? GEM is fine without PE, unless PE is dumping cash into the bank account of GEM to help them stagger through 2009.

And if this happens, when the storied history of Petty Enterprises, already diluted by their previous sell-out to Boston Ventures, what does happen to Petty Enterprises? Was the first sell out to Boston Ventures the first death knell in the wind? Is this it? Gone. After all this time? It can't hurt in present day, with the lack of performance that PE has been delivering, even if there looked to be a bit of hope here and there for PE from the No 43 camp.

Ideas for names, anyone: Gilletty Entersports? Pettette MotorPrises?

Or will this new, rumored team name just get ridiculously longer: Gillette Evernham Petty Motorssports. GEPM?

Of course is it possible that Gillette will remove Evernham's name from the team, since they bought him out in November? Evernham is not looking to own another team (source), but he did buy a dirt track (source), so hence starts his new racing endeavor. I guess we'll have to watch ray in the broadcast booth, but I can hope he sticks around NASCAR with a bit more intervention than that.

Then again, do you think his unspoken, surmised engagement to Erin Crocker might have some bit of fuel under his decision making?


Source

Evernham Gillete, Furniture Row, Hass Racing news

Stanley Tools will have a fresh new look in 2008. NASCAR fans will now see the familiar yellow and black colors of the Stanley brand on Elliott Sadler's ride for 12 Sprint Cup races and the All Star Event. evernhammotorsports.com
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Furniture Row Motorsports has a new crew chief for the 2008 year in Jay Guy. furniturerowracing.com
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Hass CNC Racing continues to take major strides in identifying itself as a mainstay in the Sprint Cup Series. With its most recent addition, the team announces Mike Verlander will serve as Director of Business Development. Verlander brings his experience from MCG Sports where he managed business development for Joe Gibbs Racing. See haasracing.com for more details.

Gillett Evernham Motorsports Introduces Patrick Carpentier in Montreal

MONTREAL, QUEBEC (October 16, 2007) - Patrick Carpentier was introduced to the media today at a press conference prior to the Montreal Canadiens game at the Bell Centre.

Foster Gillett welcomed Carpentier on behalf of the Gillett family, who owns the Montreal Canadiens Hockey Club and recently purchased ownership in Gillett Evernham Motorsports.

There's more at evernhammotorsports.com

Carpentier has a Ride

F1, Champ, Motocross.. They're coming from everywhere because NASCAR is the show.

With that being said, former Champ Car star Patrick Carpentier signed with Gillett Evernham Motorsports on Wednesday to drive the No. 10 Dodge.

Carpentier is replacing Scott Riggs, who is leaving to drive for Haas CNC Racing next season. He'll step into a team that was founded by Ray Evernham, who turned over majority ownership to the Gillett family this summer.

The Gillett's also own the Montreal Canadiens, and are co-owners of the English Premier League club Liverpool.

See all the details at FoxSports

Petty Enterprises is NOT Merging with Anyone!!

Petty Enterprises is not merging with Gillett Evernham Motorsports.

But the Petty family and the Gillett family are exploring the possibility of a partnership, not a merge.

... there's still lots of questions that need to be answered - among them, who would "lose" a team - before a deal could be reached.

Petty said Friday that his family's company needs a partner to remain competitive and he is further along in talks with George Gillett than any other potential partner in the past.

Check out the details at scenedaily

Petty Evernham Merger?

In an article by David Newton over on ESPN, he notes that [The two-car operation owned by seven-time champion Richard Petty is having discussions with Montreal Canadiens owner George Gillett Jr. that would allow it to merge with Gillett Evernham Motorsports and form a four-car Nextel Cup organization.]

Wow, that would effectively end the Petty reign in racing if they were to combine with another shop. Evernham is big enough that he doesn't need to take 2nd fiddle in a team name (Yes, it's Gillett Evernham Motorsports. (GEM) I have a bad habit of referring to old names.), but would Petty Enterprises then take 2nd fiddle?

I don't think either organization deserves 2nd fiddle. GEMPE? PEGEM? If this actually happens, that would be interesting because right now, GEM has the strong stable of drivers. I guess time will tell.

espn.go.com (Same link as above)