APR laying folks off? UPDATEs and links to possible jobs: hearing Andy Petree Racing has laid off many of their employees and crew as no sponsorship has been found for 2003 yet. UPDATE: heard from the team and been told that as of today they do not have anything signed for next year, but are very close, and did lay some people off Monday. APR is very close to signing a full deal for next year and beyond and they hope to announce a deal within 10 days. Plus on Speed Channel’s Inside Winston Cup, Kenny Schrader, who is rumored to drive for APR in 2003 said for he hopes to announce a sponsor deal on Speed News (on Speed Channel Sunday’s at 7pm) soon.(11-18-2002) UPDATE 2: Two years of sponsorship concerns are beginning to wear on NASCAR team owner Andy Petree. But Petree is optimistic that he will be able to announce a sponsorship deal to ensure the financial health of his #55 team as early as next week. Petree laid off an unspecified number of workers Monday but said Tuesday that he hopes most of the layoffs are only temporary. Petree and driver Kenny Schrader, with support from NASCAR, are talking to a potential sponsor for next season. Meanwhile, the remaining 30-plus members of the team are working to prepare cars for next season; they recently conducted a wind-tunnel test. “We’re definitely not shutting the door by any means,” Petree says. “The people that we have are working their butts off.”(USA Today)(11-20-2002) Job Help: Racing Resumes is offering help to those laid off from this team and others (including the BGN and CTS series) as is other Job placement servies, see my Racing Schools/Jobs page for links and info.(11-20-2002) UPDATE 3: Andy Petree has confirmed that Ken Schrader will drive the #55 Chevy next year, if the owner can secure sponsorship for the team. Petree says his sponsorship woes aren’t solved just yet, but he feels confident they will be within the week. Petree told NASCAR.com on Thursday that his search for monetary backing is “going pretty good,” although he would not specify with whom he is negotiating. Earlier this week, Petree laid off an unspecified number of workers, but added that he hopes most of the layoffs are only temporary. Petree said the #55 team has two 2003 Chevy’s built — one for speedways and another for tracks requiring more downforce. A second speedway car, which was taken to the wind tunnel last week, is nearly done.(NASCAR.com)(11-22-2002)
