AJ Allmendinger will get to race full-time in 2009, and it comes at the expense of Elliott Sadler.
Gillett Evernham Motorsports is getting set to announce that Allmendinger will replace Sadler in the No. 19 Dodge car next season—even though Sadler had signed a contract extension with the team in May.
Allmendinger's agent, Tara Ragan, confirmed the news.
"Yes, we're in the final stages of negotiations with Gillett Evernham," Ragan said. "I think things will be sorted out within the next week. Nothing's done till it's done—knock on wood—but I think we're all eager to make that work, and I think it's safe to say we're in the fine details and the fine-tuning of that.
"I don't foresee any problems coming up, and I don't think they do, either. But is it signed, sealed, and delivered? No, not quite, but hopefully it will be in the next few days."
Allmendinger was the driver at Red Bull Racing in 2007 and was replaced at Kansas in 2008 by Scott Speed. He drove the No. 10 Dodge for GEM the final five races of the season. His average finish withe the team during those five races was a 16.4 and he gained much attention from the media and broadcasters each weekend for the wonderful job he was doing.
Now he has a ride and in decent equipment. It's also reported that he gets along very well with new teammate Kasey Kahne.
This means that Sadler is now on the table. Sadler is rumored to be in talks with many different teams, including Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing and the No. 41 Chevrolet.
Sidenote: Ragan Smith, the 2008 Rookie of the Year for the Sprint Cup Series, will be driving for Furniture Row Racing in 2009.
Sources: Foxsports.com, NASCAR.com
30 comments Last one added 6 months ago — Leave a Comment
Andrew Fletcher 6 months ago
I seen him getting the ride with the 43, but ousting Sadler where did this come from
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Kelly Crandall 6 months ago
When AJ was driving for GEM in the last five races his average finish was better than Sadlers's. AJ had a 16.4 and Sadler had a 31.1. So GEM decided to evaluate their status for next season. I think that now that AJ is in good equipment then he should be able to perform well.
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S M Napier 6 months ago
It a dumb move by GEM, when you add in that several of the sponsors are not happy about the driver change from Sadler to Allmindger and in today's economy you need to do everything you can to keep them. It also must mean, the No. 43 deal is off, Gillette wants A.J. in a car, but we could see the No. 19 go from full sponsorship to partial with the move.
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Kelly Crandall 6 months ago
I havent' heard anything about the sponsors not being happy. But I said previously, AJ had a better average finish than Sadler did so I think it's time to give him a chance. Sadler has never won with GEM and now they think they can put a kid in the car that can do it. He proved the last five races that if you put him in good equipment then he can run well.
And I'm not sure what you mean by 43 deal.....
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Nathan B 6 months ago
The article on NASCAR.com specifically said that at least one sponsor was very unhappy with the deal and is considering leaving. At least one. I truly don't understand handing someone a ride who runs well for a few races, compared to a veteran who has both made the Chase when in decent equipment and has won three times.
The 43 deal (Petty merging with GEM) is said to be imminent, but I agree with you SM -- it makes no sense to make the deal and then drop a driver, since Labonte is gone for sure. This is going to all end up very strange, with Elliott and Bobby supposedly the top two contenders for the #41 ride.
Gillet has run off Carpentier, Sadler and Evernham himself. How's he doing with Liverpool and Montreal, 'cause he sure doesn't seem to be making it work in NASCAR.
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S M Napier 6 months ago
Agree with you Nathan, read about it on Jayski and I took some to mean several. Since it's a team with four or five sponsors, depending if you separate Garmin and Best Buy, Sadler's a great P/R guy for your company and can't see Allmindger being that great of a addition to cost Sadler his job.
Also if your dropping the 10 car, why add the 43 if it's only a three car team. Plus this move will cause Budweiser, to look for a new team to move to after 2009, with or without Kasey Kahne and probably use a escape clause to do it.
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Andrew Fletcher 6 months ago
personally i rather put my marbles on the Red Bull Team this year, rather than the four car dodge team of GEM
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Kelly Crandall 6 months ago
I can see what you mean. It appeared that Brian Vickers and his Toyota team were really hitting their stride last season. Who knows what Scott Speed is going to do.
The Dodge teams, all of them, are in trouble. It will be interesting to see what happens next year!
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S M Napier 6 months ago
Scott Speed will only prove in 2009, Red Bull Racing made the right move by giving him the chance in Cup and he's already shown me more than "Boy Wonder" has.
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Kelly Crandall 6 months ago
To me it seemed interesting that when Speed was driving the 84 car he was just average. But when they put him in Vickers car at Homestead he qualified and ran very well.
But that's just me. Don't jump down my throat SM I know you like him. I do too, I was just pointing that out. =)
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S M Napier 6 months ago
One - It's called Hype.
Two - Allimdinger had a one year deal with Red Bull on the table, he wanted a multi-year deal and left. Three - I'm not a fan of Allmindinger's and were is the name Kelly written in my comment.
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Mary Jo Buchanan 6 months ago
I have been hoping that AJ would get a good ride...and it looks like that has happened. But I've always been fond of Elliott Sadler and I think it is a shame that he had to pay the price. Just my opinion from the heart - not based in any fact or statistics.
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Kelly Crandall 6 months ago
It was great to see what AJ could do when he was in decent equipment last season. Now he really has to go out and prove himself next year with the 19 car.
Elliott has always been a nice guy and wonderful driver, but he was just not getting the job done. When he left Woods Brothers for Yates he won races, then he came to GEM and he has not. It's disappointing because we know he can do it, but unfortunately it's too late now.
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Nathan B 6 months ago
Kelly, if you think the #10 car is "decent equipment" (or any Dodge, for that matter) compared to what was developing at Red Bull, I think you may be in for a long season rooting for A.J. He did better than his teammates at the end of the year in a few select races, but there's no reason to think Dodge has done anything except go backwards in the last 8 months or so.
No offense to A.J., but I doubt this is any better equipment than what he was already in -- it's probably a step back.
Elliott didn't win at GEM, because they have fielded weak cars ever since the year Mayfield made the Chase. GEM, and Dodge, didn't keep up with the other manufacturers and teams, and now are paying the price.
And now A.J. gets to learn, like Patrick Carpentier, Jeremy Mayfield, Rodney Childers, now Elliott Sadler, and many others, just how much "loyalty" exists at the GEM operation. I hope he has a better experience than those who have gone before him.
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Kelly Crandall 6 months ago
The reason that I say decent is because when you think about Evernham you think that they should have good equipment. But yes, Dodge has gone downhill as I mentioned earlier.
AJ was good for those select races and now he gets to run the full season to prove if he can do it every weekend.
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Nathan B 6 months ago
The article on NASCAR.com specifically said that at least one sponsor was very unhappy with the deal and is considering leaving. At least one. I truly don't understand handing someone a ride who runs well for a few races, compared to a veteran who has both made the Chase when in decent equipment and has won three times.
The 43 deal (Petty merging with GEM) is said to be imminent, but I agree with you SM -- it makes no sense to make the deal and then drop a driver, since Labonte is gone for sure. This is going to all end up very strange, with Elliott and Bobby supposedly the top two contenders for the #41 ride.
Gillet has run off Carpentier, Sadler and Evernham himself. How's he doing with Liverpool and Montreal, 'cause he sure doesn't seem to be making it work in NASCAR.
For what it's worth, after I returned from Iraq in 2006, I wrote a simple thank you note to Elliott for his words in support of the troops while I watched the races in SE Baghdad in 2005. His response? (actually, from him, Brett Griffin, his spotter, and M&Ms) ... he allowed me and my wife to be his special guests at Darlington, with hot passes, and all kinds of other wonderful goodies.
I have nothing against A.J. (except for his bonehead move at Charlotte during the Nextel Open this year that ruined the best car Elliott had probably ever driven). But I have a lot against George Gillet, as do many others. What good is a contract these days in any sport, anyway?
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S M Napier 6 months ago
First let me thank you Nathan, for fighting for our freedom and your a heroe to us on B/R. Agree with you on Gillet, just don't see some of his moves of late, he's crazy to lose Evernham and now the move with Sadler.
Sadler is a proven veteran, has a great personality, his sponsors love him and he's a great P/R guy for them also. Now he also would have been smarter to keep Carpentier, than gamble on Allmendinger. Now seems he's going to merge with Petty just for the points for Sorenson, put him in the 43 and drop the 10 team. just seems smarter to me, expanded to four teams, use Labonte for the veteran leadership & mentoring he gives you and with the past champion provisional he'll do fine the first five races of 2009.
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Nathan B 6 months ago
Thanks for the thanks SM ... I'm no hero or anything; just the job I signed up for at the time. The heroes to me are the ones who go over there three or four times and keep signing back up! And also, the people back home who have been so supportive of soldiers, no matter their politics. When I compare that to the Vietnam era, it means the world to me.
As you can probably imagine, I agree with your comments. I met the head of Best Buy Racing at Sadler's Barn Party last year (I have been to both of them -- who else would have a blowout at his own house on his own family's land for thousands of fans?). He seemed to VERY MUCH like Elliott and his experience at that party helped cement his opinion of him.
Allmendinger is young, attractive to the women (from what I understand), and has talent (even if unproven behind the wheel). But sponsors tend to like known commodities and Sadler has this:
Top-10 in most popular driver voting for years running
Girls / women love him (especially a certain demographic, but anyway)
He's great behind the camera
He has won 3 races; Allmendinger has won zero (in far less time, of course)
He's been in the Chase (2004) and missed it by one spot (2005) when he at least had moderately good equipment
He's an outstanding qualifier, one of the best in the business
I don't know how this will shake out, but one thing Kelly says is ringing in my head: "Now he (Allmendinger) will have a full season to prove himself."
I'll bet Patrick Carpentier was thinking the same thing ...
Maybe it will end up better for Elliott ... I guess if he ends up in the #41, he'll at least be in a Chevy.
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al asifyouknow 6 months ago
i dont get it , i think AJ is overrated , for some reason he was the darling of the ABC broadcast crew. Maybe is about money , AJ may demand less pay....like to see ELLIOTT in the #41
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D-Boy 6 months ago
The ABC broadcast crew made such a big deal out of AJ because they hold Mark Martin in very high regard. And Mark Martin believes AJ Allmendinger is going to be a big deal in NASCAR if he gets the right ride.
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C Wilson 6 months ago
I really liked Ray E, and I feel like his team is not being run how he would do it (which is likely one reason he left). I don't understand how you can fire someone with a contract. Merry Christmas and Happy Wedding to Elliott. And honestly, it seems a little unprofessional to me for AJ's agent to be spilling the beans when it's not a "done deal." I have nothing against AJ and wanted to see him get a ride, but not at Elliott's expense. (Though Elliott might end up being better off someplace else with what GEM is turning into.) Is Kasey now going to feel tremendous pressure to perform? I could rant further, but I'll shut up now.
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Kelly Crandall 6 months ago
I understand everything that you are sayng C-
But I think Evernham left because he was just tired of NASCAR and saw the direction of the sport and Dodge was going, so he decided to leave and head back to his roots.
It is a tough deal for Elliott but when you're not winning in NASCAR either the crew chief goes or the driver goes, and it's Elliott's turn. I have always liked him so it is disappointing.
As for AJ's agent, she's not the only one who lets things leak before they are official. Many people do that, but once again, I understand, especially if Sadler didnt know yet!
And lastly, Kasey Kahne needs to start winning and making the Chase again. He had such great hype about him and now he's more known for his commercials then his racing. ( I think that might be my next artice..shhhh don't tell anyone!)
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Brian Waugh 6 months ago
Good for the young AJ, he worked hard through the tail end of the 08 season. It is always troubling when someone's fortune comes as someone else's misfortune but in this case is always puzzling when someone like Elliott has recently signed a contract. Is this the NFL? I know that Elliott will surface somewhere, his talent will be needed especially as these times are tough.
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Kelly Crandall 6 months ago
Thank Brian-
You make good points. AJ showed that he has ability and unfortunately Sadler hasn't been winning and when things are going bad either the crew chief goes or the driver goes. But Sadler will pop up somewhere.
It's just amazing how now a days it doesn't mean anything to have a contract. You think you're safe but then come Monday you don't have a job.
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Brian Waugh 6 months ago
Hey, and besides Kelly, It can't hurt, AJ is married to a Canadian Dr. ( a chiropractor). I am really cheering him on for a good season in 09. I want to see Elliott make good in the new season and whether it is with the combined Earnhardt/Ganassi or wherever, he will survive.
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Kelly Crandall 6 months ago
Didn't know about his marriage. But yes, I hope that they both succeed with their new teams.
They both have worked hard and have proven they can win now if they can get settled in with their new teams and get their chemistry working, then maybe we will see them battle the big guys for wins
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Patti Rodisch 6 months ago
I am glad that AJ got a ride he has a lot of talent and he has used 2008 as a spring board, now he needs to prove he is a contender each week. The odd man out is Sadler. i think this is a sign of how the merger is going. I agree with everyone else Kasey needs to step it up and he can;t afford to win races and not make the chase...
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Kelly Crandall 6 months ago
Thanks Patti-
You are certainly right. AJ now gets to prove what he has. He'll have a pretty "decent" team around him to do so.
Sadler should land on his feet though, I doubt that we won't see him in 2009.
And yes, Kasey Kahne needs to get back to winning and being in the Chase,.
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Patti Rodisch 6 months ago
Sadler I thought should have had a better 2008, he had some good runs but some poor luck, the allstar race, Dover, and even coke 600 wasn't he running really well and then had tire issues....Sadler just needs to find a stable team and some good equipment we haven't seen his best yet and I am not sure if the remaining teams out there will be whats a good fit for sadler..but he should get a ride...
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Kelly Crandall 6 months ago
You're exactly right.
Not only do you have to be good in this sport but you need to be lucky as well. Sadler's luck both on and off the track has run out.
But he will be driving somewhere in 2009, now we just have to wait to see where!
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