hearing Gillett Evernham Motorsports has signed Patrick Carpentier to run the #10 Dodge in 2008.(10-10-2007) UPDATE: Gillett Evernham Motorsports announced today that they have added Patrick Carpentier to their driver lineup for 2008. The Quebec native and former open wheel stand out will drive fulltime in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series next year as well as select races in the Nationwide [Busch] Series. The car number and sponsorship have not yet been announced. Carpentier made his Nextel Cup Series debut earlier this season driving the #10 Valvoline/Stanley Tools Dodge Avenger at Watkins Glen, leading seven laps in the event. Just one week earlier, he had made his Busch Series debut at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal. The road course veteran proved to be a quick study as he won the pole for the event and led 14 laps en route to a second-place finish. Carpentier has compiled two Champ Car World Series wins, three CART victories, and a Toyota Atlantic Championship. We are excited to add Patrick Carpentier to our organization for 2008, said George Gillett co-owner of Gillett Evernham Motorsports. Patrick (Carpentier) has shown tremendous talent in every series he has driven throughout his career and has a bright future in NASCAR. We are committed to giving Patrick (Carpentier) the best resources and opportunities available to make this transition and we look forward to a great deal of success together both on and off the track. Gillett Evernham Motorsports will conduct a formal press conference next week to introduce Patrick Carpentier and discuss further details. Information regarding this press conference to follow.(Clear!Blue/GEM PR)(10-10-2007) UPDATE 2: Patrick Carpentier will be put on the fast track to drive full-time in the Nextel Cup series for Gillett Evernham Motorsports next season. Minority owner Ray Evernham hopes to get the former Champ Car star into two Busch Series and two Cup events before the end of the season, beginning at Martinsville Speedway in two weeks. Evernham said Carpentier also will drive at least a partial schedule next season in the Nationwide Series, now the Busch Series. Carpentier has been cleared by NASCAR to run a Cup event at every track but Daytona and Talladega. He could be approved for Daytona by competing in the ARCA or Busch race before the 500. “We’ll do whatever we need to,” Evernham said. “He’s a great race driver. He’s smart. He communicates well with the team. I haven’t really worked with him much, but I know a lot about him and I know in a short time if most drivers don’t get it, they don’t. “Patrick gets it.” Carpentier will fill the third car at EMS being vacated by Scott Riggs, who last week signed with Haas CNC Racing. Evernham said there are no plans to put Carpentier in Riggs’ car the remainder of this season, saying Carpentier will drive the #98 test team car.(ESPN.com)(10-11-2007)
