Richard Petty name to stick after NASCAR team merger

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What’s in a name? A lot, when it comes to Richard Petty.

Gillett Evernham Motorsports, which has acquired Petty Enterprises, said today that the newly merged NASCAR stock-car racing team has changed its name to Richard Petty Motorsports ‘to carry on the storied Petty legacy.’

The team said it would field four Dodges in NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series this season: The No. 9 driven by Kasey Kahne, the No. 19 with Elliott Sadler, the No. 43 -- Petty’s old number -- with Reed Sorenson and the No. 44 with A.J. Allmendinger.

Petty, who is known as ‘The King’ of NASCAR, won a record 200 races and seven championships in a driving career that ended in 1992. But his team Petty Enterprises has struggled in recent years and, with the poor economy making matters worse, the team was forced to merge with Gillett Evernham to survive.

But at 71, the ever-smiling Petty remains among the most popular figures in NASCAR Nation. Team co-owner George Gillett said today that in addition to winning more races, extending Petty’s legacy ‘is without question the most important factor in this relationship.’

--Jim Peltz