STATESVILLE, N.C. (AP) -- Richard Petty Motorsports and Yates Racing plan to merge in 2010, with the four-car team running Fords under the RPM banner.
Under the agreement Yates driver Paul Menard will join RPM's three-car team of Kasey Kahne, Elliott Sadler and AJ Allmendinger.
The switch from Dodge to Ford should also ease some of the financial pressure felt by RPM since Chrysler's Chapter 11 filing. RPM laid off employees and cut salaries after the Chrysler filed for bankruptcy protection.
RPM was formed in January when Petty Holdings merged with Gillett Evernham Motorsports. The team has endured an inconsistent 2009, though Kahne is in good position to make the chase for the championship after winning in Atlanta last weekend.
Petty called the merger "a pretty big deal" and details are still being ironed out.
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Reproduced courtesy of www.sportsillustated.cnn.com / Associated Press
