No Petree/Jones ‘merger’? BUT: The shape of Andy Petree’s operation next season has been the subject of considerable debate the past two months, as Petree negotiates with Jerry Jones of the Dallas Cowboys. However, there are signs that a merger, which once seemed so promising, might not happen at all. There have been reports that the negotiations aren’t going that well. Now there are reports that the operation will likely get Robert Yates’ engines, and Ricky Rudd is considered at the top of Jones’ list of potential drivers. Rudd’s other two offers are figured to be with Chip Ganassi’s third Dodge team and with a DEI’s Chevy team. Where that leaves Petree, of course, is unclear. And where it leaves driver Bobby Hamilton [says he is not returning, see story below] and crew chief Jimmy Elledge is equally unclear. There are signs that Elledge might move back to the Yates camp for the 2003 season. And there are indications that Hamilton will have to sign on with a Dodge Winston Cup team if he is to keep Dodge’s support of his NASCAR truck-series operation; if so, keep an eye on Hamilton, Petty Enterprises and Ganassi.(Winston Salem Journal)(7-7-2002) BUT: NASCAR team owner Andy Petree says he and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones are “a week or so away” from formally announcing their new Winston Cup partnership. “We’re trying to get all the details worked out of our deal,” Petree said in the garage area of the Daytona International Speedway before Saturday night’s Pepsi 400. “We’re close to making an announcement. But I’d rather save that and make some impact, if and when we do.” Petree did say that contrary to reports in various media, he has not decided to field Fords beginning in 2003. And Petree said the team definitely will not move from Hendersonville, N.C., to the sport’s hub of Charlotte/Concord, NC. “I know it’s taken a lot longer for us to get this thing done than I’d like,” said Petree, who has been negotiating with Jones since February. “The fact is, we don’t have anything that we can formally announce at this second. It’s going to be soon. We’re still a week or so away.” Petree speculated, however, that the announcement could be made as late as the Brickyard 400 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway the weekend of Aug. 2-4, to maximize national exposure. Petree, whose team has struggled to secure sponsorship to run a full-time two-car operation this season, competed in the Pepsi 400 with the #55 Schneider Electric Chevy driven by Bobby Hamilton and the #33 1-800-CALL-ATT Chevy driven by Mike Wallace. A Chevrolet loyalist, Petree said he “got into trouble” with GM Racing executives following a published report last month that he was going to join the Ford Taurus camp next year. “I do have a good relationship with GM,” said Petree, who is the “A” part of the RAD program that also includes Cup team owner Richard Childress and Dale Earnhardt Inc. The three Chevy teams have shared a variety of aerodynamic information while developing the Monte Carlo, especially for carburetor restrictor-plate tracks like the high-banked, 2.5-mile DIS. “If this thing does turn out not to be with GM, I’d rather be the one to kind of tell ’em,” Petree said. “And that’s a big ‘if.’ If it’s going to be a Ford team, we’ll tell you. Right now, we don’t know. And there’s no doubt we are considering if it’s going to be a Ford team or not.” Petree, 43, was adamant that the team would not relocate from its current base. “We’re in Hendersonville,” said Petree, who won his first two races as a car owner last year with Hamilton and Joe Nemechek. “I’ve heard those rumors all over the place. I don’t know what they are or where they came from.” Petree said he would prefer to run a two-car operation full-time next year, but that “some details” needed to be worked out. A Cup car owner since 1997, Petree was crew chief for seven-time series champion Dale Earnhardt’s Cup-winning seasons at Richard Childress Racing in 1993 and 1994. As a crew chief, Petree has earned 25 Cup victories and 10 pole positions. Earlier this week here, veteran driver Ricky Rudd confirmed that he had met with Jones and Petree in Dallas shortly after winning the Dodge/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma, Calif., on June 23. “That’s OK if Ricky said that,” Petree said of the meeting. “I didn’t say that.” Rudd said he was impressed with the plan the new partners mapped out for him. Rudd, 45, has set a self-imposed deadline of July 15 to make a decision on his racing future.(Fort Worth Star Telegram)(7-7-2002) AND Owner Andy Petree and Ricky Rudd were spotted together at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport on their way back from Sears Point. Speculation is that Rudd is a leading candidate to drive one of the cars in a possible deal between Petree and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, and principals from the Jones camp were in Daytona last weekend. Rudd says he presented a contract offer to Robert Yates to stay in the No. 28 Ford beyond 2002 but is considering other offers because he did not receive a solid response. Rudd might get more money signing with Jones/Petree, but he wouldn’t have a chance to win a championship with a start-up team.(Sporting News)(7-8-2002)
