Thursday, September 10, 2009 on SIRIUS NASCAR Radio, host Dave Moody spoke with #44 RPM Dodge driver A.J. Allmendinger after the announcement that Richard Petty Motorsports and Yates Racing have signed a letter of intent to merge for the 2010 season and race a four car team in Fords:
Host, Dave Moody: How long have you known about this?
A.J. Allmendinger: I think probably just about as long as you guys have. Maybe an hour earlier. I knew about an hour earlier.
Moody: Is it safe to say there are going to be a lot of really surprised folks wandering around the halls at RPM and Yates Racing today?
Allmendinger: In certain ways, yes. In certain ways, maybe not, no. Just because over the last, heck, I mean, how many months has it been that people have known that weve been out there looking at manufacturers. And Foster Gillett and everybody at Richard Petty Motorsports has been working hard to find the right home for us to go to. Yeah, maybe in certain ways, just kinda how quick it all happened but in other ways, no, just because like I said, theyve been working hard and theres been no secret especially over the last couple of months about them looking at manufacturers. Obviously, Toyota was probably the main one that was put out there but theyve been kind of exhausting every possibility and I think with what just happened the whole team is excited. I know Im pumped up about it to be able to work with Ford and be a part of that. Its going to be a good thing.
Obviously, all the horsepower that Yates puts out is pretty awesome to have and were pretty excited about it. Weve been working really hard, especially on the chassis. Weve gotten the chassis a lot better at Richard Petty Motorsports and everybody in the engine shop has been doing a good job there. Weve just been just lacking a little bit but Im excited about that because weve worked really hard especially over the last few months to make these cars handle good and we put some Yates horsepower under it, its going to be a good thing.
Moody: We would assume that the legendary #43 would continue. Have they told you yet who drives it?
Allmendinger: Havent told me yet so I dont know, Moody. You seem to know more than I usually do so when you find that out let me know, please. Id love to drive it. The history behind it. In a way, obviously I already get to drive for the King and a lot of ways with being a part of Richard Petty Motorsports and kind of looking at the #43 and #44 cars as still the stable mate of the Kings cars, but Id love to be driving that #43. As a racecar driver and more of a racecar fan, I love the history of motorsports and obviously the #43 is one of those numbers throughout all types of auto racing that stands out. So if I got a chance to be in it Id jump at it in a heartbeat. SIRIUS Speedway airs every weekday (3-7 pm ET) exclusively on SIRIUS NASCAR Radio 128.(SIRIUS XM Radio)(9-11-2009)
