Kahne out at RPM

KAHNE OUT @ RPM. Team statement: Kasey Kahne has been released from his driving duties with Richard Petty Motorsports effective immediately. Aric Almirola will pilot the No. 9 Budweiser Ford Fusion in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event this weekend at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. Driver line-up beyond Martinsville is to be determined. MartySmithESPN via UberTwitter

 

Wonder what he will be doing this weekend?

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Permalink Reply by Keith on October 21, 2010 at 1:19pm
You can't take everything being written about this deal at face value.

The NASCAR media has their lips so pressed to Kasey Kahne's butt they can't see anything except Kahne. Their bias for the pretty boy is interfering with their objectivity. Beyond the cameras and microphones, Kasey is an ass hat.

Add to that is their (media and NASCAR hob nobs) dislike for George Gillette. He's not "one of the good ole boys". He's been an outsider since day one. It would not disappoint any if he were to flop belly up. That said, this is like the 10th time he's supposedly done and yet he lives to fight another day.

Then you have the dispute between George and John Henry (the FENWAY of Roush/Fenway) over the Liverpool soccer club. Makes for good Soap Opera stuff.

Bottom line, don't take everything you are reading about this deal to the bank. You might end up broke.
Permalink Reply by NIKAL on October 21, 2010 at 1:33pm
The house of cards is finally falling for George Gillett's Richard Petty Motorsports. The assembly line from Roush Fenway Racing and Roush Yates engines has stopped running to RPM. Engines have been picked up, cars have been repossessed, and sources on both sides -- RPM and RFR -- say no cars will be delivered beyond Martinsville this weekend. On Thursday morning, crewmen at RPM were told they may not have jobs after the race at Martinsville Speedway this weekend. Neither Petty team CEO Foster Gillett nor team Vice President Robbie Loomis could be reached for comment. RPM currently fields four cars in the Sprint Cup Series -- the #9, #19, #43 and #98. Kasey Kahne was released from his contract as of Wednesday night and is expected to drive for Red Bull Racing for the remainder of the year and in 2011. Elliott Sadler is expected to drive for Kevin Harvick Inc. next year. Paul Menard signed a multi-year deal to drive for Richard Childress Racing starting next year. His current crew chief Richard "Slugger" Labbe will continue his duties at RCR. AJ Allmendinger re-signed a multiyear deal to drive the #43 Ford this summer. Allmendinger is currently 20th in the point standings. Marcos Ambrose was signed to drive the #19 Ford in August. Ambrose currently drives for JTG/Daugherty Racing and is 26th in the point standings.(Fox Sports)(10-21-2010)
Permalink Reply by Matt Gruber on October 21, 2010 at 1:50pm
If all of this is true -- and that is a big IF -- if I were Gibbs or Stewart, I would have been on the phone with 'Dinger and Best Buy before I was even finished hearing about this.
Permalink Reply by NIKAL on October 21, 2010 at 1:58pm
RGM should be doing the same, and every other team out there!
Permalink Reply by Matt Gruber on October 21, 2010 at 2:45pm
UPDATE: The story has now been updated to include: "Sources tell FOXSports.com that the Talladega cars were returned after 11 a.m. ET Thursday, but they do not have engines or gears yet."(10-21-2010)

What does this mean? Returned to RPM, or returned to Roush-Fenway?
Permalink Reply by RGordonNo#1 on October 21, 2010 at 1:58pm
Well if RPM goes under there are 4 cars leaving the Top 35, I know he will try to sell those spots, but how many people are going to buying them when they only have 40 cars show up for Daytona next year!
Permalink Reply by Matt Gruber on October 21, 2010 at 2:35pm
NASCAR doesn't care about Richard Petty. They have their heads so far up their own ass right now they are more worried about Kasey Kahne's future and legacy than that of The King. There's more money in it for them. Sad, but true.
Permalink Reply by NIKAL on October 21, 2010 at 2:05pm
Here is a bit more to this. Most NASCAR team owners are intertwined in other businesses, It looks as if Gillett other business venture might be why he is getting his NASCAR stuff repo'ed.

The recent developments come just weeks after Roush Fenway Racing co-owner John W. Henry’s New England Sport Ventures acquired the debt-riddled Liverpool Football Club of the Premier League, which is co-owned by Gillett, on Oct. 6 for $477 million. After the sale was complete, however, Gillett and his business partner Tom Hicks threatened to sue NESV for damages of at least $1.6 billion for “an extraordinary swindle" because they felt the team was undervalued in the sale.

Along with being Jack Roush’s partner in the Roush Fenway Racing operation, Henry is the owner of record on the Nos. 6 and 17 Fords of David Ragan and Matt Kenseth.

On Twitter following the sale, Henry wrote, “We have a binding contract. Will fight Mill Hicks Gillett attempt to keep club today. Their last desperate attempt to entrench their regime.”
Permalink Reply by Keith on October 21, 2010 at 2:25pm
That was over a week ago.
Permalink Reply by NIKAL on October 21, 2010 at 2:42pm
Maybe, But that fact is George Gillett and his partner Hicks are suing John Henry who is partners with Roush Racing, owns Fenway and New England Sports Ventures. This whole NASCAR deal is probably not the real issue. I bet John and his Fenway/New England Sports Venture business is looking at this as "You are going to sue me for $1.6 Billion dollars! Well then I will quit supporting your NASCAR program!" Now what are you going to do?

This is probably more of an ego pissing match between very wealth powerful business men.
Permalink Reply by soylent_green on October 21, 2010 at 2:06pm
guess we will be moving out of the top 35 bubble.
Permalink Reply by Keith on October 21, 2010 at 2:24pm
Darell Waltrip might have let the cat out of the bag this morning...

What IF Roush/Ford pulled off a deal ala Hendrick/Chevy i.e. STEWART/HAAS ?

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