NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver AJ Allmendinger has agreed to a deal to drive this season for Richard Petty Motorsports.
Allmendinger, 27, has an option for 2010, but for now will drive in the Budweiser Shootout and the first eight races of the season with hopes of securing sponsorship for the rest of the season. “This is pretty awesome news for me,” said Allmendinger. “I just want to get behind the wheel of a race car and race. We have a lot of work to do on the track and need to sell some sponsorship, but this team has great equipment and I think there is a lot of chemistry here based on how we did at the end of last season.”
Allmendinger begins his third full season in Cup Series racing after driving the final five races of the 2008 season with the RPM team. He posted the 14th most points of any driver during that five-race period.
“I cannot put into words how excited I am to run the No. 44 in 2009,” Allmendinger said. “I raced with these guys five times last year and loved everything about it. The cars were great, the guys were great and we put up some pretty good results. I’m just very grateful to have this opportunity.”
“A.J. has a ton of potential,” team owner Richard Petty said. “I went testing with him a few weeks ago. When he climbed out of the car I think he went to everyone working on the car asking them questions and wanting to know what was going on. That’s the kind of thing you want out of your driver. He’s a young guy and I think we can help him and he can help us.”
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