AJ Allmendinger signs with Richard Petty Motorsports for 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup season
AJ Allmendinger has signed to drive for Richard Petty Motorsports for the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. // David Griffin, NASCAR Scene
Richard Petty Motorsports officials announced today AJ Allmendinger will drive for the NASCAR Sprint Cup team in 2010.
Allmendinger joined the team, then known as Gillett Evernham Motorsports, with five races remaining last season, then signed on to drive the organization's No. 44 this season. Originally slated to run the opening eight points races, plus the non-points Budweiser Shootout, Allmendinger has picked up additional sponsorship for this season and is running through the year's 26th race at this point. He heads into this weekend's NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Phoenix 20th in the standings with a pair of top-10 finishes.
“This was an easy decision for Richard Petty Motorsports,” said Tom Reddin, the organization’s chief executive officer. “AJ has done a superb job, both on and off the track in 2009. We want to let everyone know that he’s going to be a vital part of Richard Petty Motorsports for what we believe will be a long-term, winning relationship.”
Allmendinger is competing with sponsorship from Dodge, Hunt Brothers Pizza, Valvoline, Harrah’s, Super 8, the Paralyzed Veterans of America and Charter Communications this season.
Reddin said he is confident the team will secure the sponsorship needed to extend the number of races the 27-year-old Californian will run in 2009 for the full season.
“I’m thrilled about this,” Allmendinger said. “Racers are no different than anyone else. We like to know we have a job. I’m very thankful to be where I am and I expect we will keep running better and better each weekend. I think I have found a long-term home at Richard Petty Motorsports.”
Allmendinger, who won the 2008 Sprint All-Star Open, has 51 career Cup starts after leaving an open-wheel career in which he won five races in the Champ Car series.
