Sources: Gillett Evernham putting Allmendinger in Sadler's No. 19 Dodge

By Marty Smith
ESPN.com
(Archive)

Updated: December 27, 2008, 4:50 PM ET

AJ Allmendinger is set to replace Elliott Sadler in the No. 19 Dodge in 2009, multiple Gillett Evernham Motorsports team sources told ESPN.com Saturday.
GEM CEO Tom Reddin told team employees and sponsors the news just before Christmas, causing some sponsors to consider leaving, according to team sources.

Reached for comment Saturday, GEM spokesman Drew Brown chose not to comment.

Sources also said Ray Evernham, who founded the team and sold majority ownership to George Gillett, cleared out all personal possessions from the team's shop, including the 2002 Brickyard 400 trophy he won as owner of Bill Elliott's No. 9 Dodge.

Calls placed to Evernham and Sadler's representation were not immediately returned.

http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/nascar/cup/news/story?id=3795001

Who says news doesn't break on a holiday weekend!

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Permalink Reply by TOG on December 28, 2008 at 10:08am

Aside from a few of the 'top' drivers, no driver is worth more than a 1 year contract,including Robby.

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Permalink Reply by Doug on December 28, 2008 at 11:57am

Dead on. To add to that I think you would get better production out of a driver that is racing for his future on a season by season basis than one the has the "comfort zone" of a long term deal. GEM late last year was a perfect example. Kahne and Sadler missed the chase and almost looked like they gave up, enter The Dinger and he takes a very average to blow average ride and makes it the best in the stable because he was auditioning for a job.

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Permalink Reply by Bigzoom on December 28, 2008 at 10:36am

Every year there's a few drivers standing on the sideline waiting on rides to open, but this year has more to do with lack of sponsorship and decisions from High Dollar Investors rather than Racing Breed Owners. Look at who needs a ride this year:

Bobby Labonte - Cup Champion, Chase Contender 2004
Elliott Sadler - Chase Contender 2004
Jeremy Mayfield - Chase Contender 2004, Chase Contender 2005
Regan Smith - 2008 Rookie of the Year
Scott Riggs- has sponsor ties
Scott Wimmer
Dave Blaney
Joe Nemecheck
Tony Raines
Patrick Carpentier - won a pole in 2008
Chad McCumbee
Kyle Petty - has sponsor ties
Johnny Sauter
Ken Schrader

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Permalink Reply by TOG on December 28, 2008 at 10:43am

There isn't a driver on that list that can contend for a win at any given track, including Labonte- thus not worth the big money investments.

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Permalink Reply by Lance on December 28, 2008 at 2:57pm

Disagree with Labonte. Bobby can drive.

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Permalink Reply by Mike Kenyon on December 28, 2008 at 11:13am

I thought Furiture Row announced at season's end- 09 would be a part-time schedule at best?

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Permalink Reply by TOG on December 28, 2008 at 11:17am

Still gotta have somebody pilot the part-time ride.

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Permalink Reply by TOG on December 28, 2008 at 11:16am

The beginning of the end for Regan Smith. He will become a once-upon-a-timer real fast.

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Permalink Reply by Mike Kenyon on December 28, 2008 at 11:49am

I had already forgotten that! Rookie of the Year has never had any real meaning,like TOG said
beginning of the end for Regan.

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Permalink Reply by GrayAntiMatter on December 29, 2008 at 5:53am

If he had been given credit for his win, he would be able to hang onto Cup for awhile, boucing from ride to ride, as a "past winner!"

Kinda like Joe Nemecheck has done.

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Permalink Reply by Clance' McClannahan on December 28, 2008 at 1:18pm

Oh...bad move. Sponsorship-wise.

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Permalink Reply by Bigzoom on December 28, 2008 at 3:58pm

I agree, but gotta pay the bills...so part-time gig in a Cup ride is better than no ride at all. It's not always a bad thing being in a under funded ride. Everyone knows it's not a top tier team, so if he pulls off a win or Top 5 at a track or two then everyone notices. If he doesn't do well...it's an underfunded bottom feeder team anyway.

Did you know the Furniture Row Chevy qualified in the Top 20, eight times. They qualified in the Top 10, four times and won the pole at Talladega. Highest finish was 11th at Talladega. They had a solid plate car. Biggest problems was accidents and DNF's, along with a few DNQ's being outside the Top 35 and rain outs killed this team last year.

The testing limits should help out some and the limited schedule will help them be prepared for the tracks they attempt. Don't be surprised if he grabs some attention, mainly at Dega.