AJ Allmendinger reportedly in line to replace Elliott Sadler at GEM
Gillett Evernham Motorsports is working on replacing NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Elliott Sadler with AJ Allmendinger, according to sources familiar with the situation.
GEM spokesman Drew Brown said Saturday night he had no comment on the situation and Allmendinger business manager Tara Ragan said Sunday that Allmendinger is finalizing a contract with the team.
“We’re pretty far along in talks and I expect that we’ll get something done … pretty quickly,” Ragan said in a phone interview. “Is there anything done? No.”
Sadler's business manager couldn't be reached for comment.
Allmendinger drove the final five races of last season in the No. 10 car for GEM with an average finish of 16.4. Reed Sorenson has signed to drive the No. 10 car next year. The organization also is in talks to merge with Petty Enterprises, which has an opening for its No. 43 car.
“AJ was happy there and I think they were happy with the job AJ did,” Ragan said.
Ragan said she was unsure which car Allmendinger would drive.
“They’re trying to do a lot of shuffling to do what’s best for everybody,” Ragan said. “As long as AJ would be in a car, [which car] doesn’t really affect us. … I honestly don’t know how that will sort out.”
Allmendinger won five Champ Car races in 2006 before joining NASCAR full time in 2007 as a Cup rookie at Red Bull Racing. He struggled, qualifying for 17 races and finishing 43rd in points. He performed better in 2008 but was released from Red Bull to make room for former Formula One driver Scott Speed.
Allmendinger has had talks with other teams up until “very recently,” Ragan said.
“AJ would really like to be there [at GEM] and we’re focusing on that,” Ragan said. “Is anything else out of the question? No, because nothing is done until it’s done.”
Sadler has driven full time in Cup for the last 10 years, with his best season in 2004 when he made NASCAR’s first version of the Chase For The Sprint Cup and placed ninth in the standings while driving for Robert Yates Racing. He left Yates during the 2006 season to join Evernham Motorsports. He finished 25th in the standings in 2007, his first full year at Evernham, and then 24th with two top-fives and eight top-10s in 2008.
