by Knoxville News-Sentinel

Though team owner George Gillett reportedly plans to preserve the Petty name in the new organization, the merger will close a chapter in NASCAR's 60-year history, during which cars of Petty Enterprises have been in its fi elds since 1949, the first year races were held in what is now the Sprint Cup Series.

The merged teams are expected to fi eld three full-time cars in 2009: the No. 9 Dodge driven by Kasey Kahne; the No. 19 Dodge in which AJ Allmendinger will replace Elliott Sadler, as reported earlier this week; and the No. 43 Dodge to be driven by Reed Sorenson.

Sorenson originally signed with GEM to drive the No. 10 Dodge vacated by Patrick Carpentier, but the merger with Petty will bring to the equation a car (the No. 43) that, unlike the No. 10, fi nished the 2008 season in the top 35 in owner points. Under that scenario, all three GEM cars would be in the top 35 and thereby guaranteed starting spots in the fi rst fi ve races of 2009.

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