Las Vegas Review-Journal - Heavy Pedal

    A year ago, three Southern Nevadans were anticipating successful runs in major American racing series.
    Patrick Carpentier was to get a chance at competing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Brendan Gaughan joined Circle Bar Racing in NASCAR’s truck series and Rod Fuller was fresh off an NHRA drag racing season in which he finished second in the Top Fuel season standings.
    Today, only Gaughan has a job.
    Carpentier was unfairly relieved of his job at Gillett Evernham Motorsports in October. But his No. 10 Dodge appears likely to be parked anyway this year because it doesn’t have a sponsor or driver.
    Fuller’s tenure at David Powers Motorsports ended a month ago when Powers sold one of his Top Fuel teams and parked Fuller’s dragster that was sponsored by Caterpillar, which officially announced this week that the economy forced it to leave the team.
    Gaughan has moved to the NASCAR Nationwide Series as a full-time driver for Rusty Wallace Racing, where his family’s South Pointe hotel-casino will provide partial sponsorship.
    Unfortunately for Fuller and Carpentier, neither family is in the casino business.

GEM, PETTY MERGER NEAR COMPLETION
    Gillett Evernham Motorsports has reached a merger agreement with Petty Enterprises, creating a four-car team that will ensure the famed No. 43 races in 2009.
The two teams agreed in principle Thursday, but said details of the transaction will not be released until the deal is finalized over the next month, The Associate Press reports.
    The team will be co-owned by Richard Petty, Petty Holdings — which is owned by majority shareholder Boston Ventures — and Gillett Evernham Motorsports.
    The name of the new team was not released, but it's believed the parties are leaning toward rebranding the organization Richard Petty Motorsports to capitalize on the seven-time NASCAR champion's name.
    Petty, owner of 200 Cup victories, said the new team secures the famed No. 43’s presence in NASCAR for years to come.
    “I want to get back to winning and together we will bring the resources, technology and infrastructure to do that,” he said.
    “This was a big decision for us but it’s something we really wanted to do. We hope everyone in the sport embraces what (GEM co-owner) George (Gillett) and I are doing.
    “Nothing is going to change for me. I’m going to be at the track every weekend and really be involved with the teams and drivers back at the shop. We are very happy. George and I have a lot of work to do, but we have a plan and we’ll be ready for Daytona.”
    Kasey Kahne, driver of the group's No. 9 Dodge, likes the merger.
    “This is pretty exciting stuff.” he said.
    “I’ve gotten to know Richard over my five years working with Dodge and I look forward to being around him more. This is pretty awesome.
    "The Gilletts have done a fantastic job of putting this together. I think you can see their commitment to winning. We could have kept on the same path, but they made a pretty bold statement that they are here to win.”
    In addition to Kahne, drivers are expected to be Reed Sorenson and A.J. Allmendinger.
    That’s where the soap opera begins.
    Elliott Sadler, the third driver with the organization, was reportedly told he will not drive for the team in 2009. Instead, GEM is believed to be negotiating with Allmendinger, who drove the final five races of last year in GEM's No. 10 Dodge.
    An attorney for Sadler, who signed a contract extension last summer, indicated the driver will go to court in an effort to keep his ride.

NASCAR GOES TO 720-AM
    Radio broadcasts of NASCAR Sprint Cup race moves to 720-AM (KDWN) in Southern Nevada.
    The move is a surprise considering the right-leaning station is accepting regular programming that turns left.
       
BALDWIN STARTS CUP TEAM
    Tommy Baldwin, a five-time NASCAR Sprint Cup and former Daytona 500 winning crew chief, has started Tommy Baldwin Racing to compete in this year’s Sprint Cup series.
    Baldwin will run a Toyota, but a driver has not been named.
    The team has 11 employees, a pretty low-buck operation. But it could become profitable considering it’s a long-shot that 43 Cup cars will show up for the March 1 Shelby 427 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

NITRO TESTING ON HORIZON
    The annual Blast-Off Open Test Sessions for NHRA racers is Jan. 17-18 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
    It’s uncertain how many Top Fuel and Funny Car teams will attend as several owners have parked their cars due to lack of sponsorship, including those for Hillary Will, Doug Kalitta, David Grubnic and Melanie Troxel.
    Some teams only will test near Phoenix the week after.
    In addition to Fuller, Tommy Johnson Jr. and J.R. Todd are without jobs.
    The loss of nitro teams in NHRA is monumental.

SHORT-TRACK BIKES AT SOUTH POINTE
    Gene Romero’s West Coast Flat Track Series is a feature attraction of this week’s 18th annual Las Vegas Motorcycle Auction at the South Pointe.
    Billed as “two-wheeled gladiators,” the races are Friday and Saturday beginning at 7:30 p.m. each day.
    Racing will be in the South Pointe Equestrian Center.
    The auction, which features about 500 vintage and unique motorcycles, begins at 9 a.m. each day.
    For information: SouthPointeCasino.com and MidAmericaAuctions.com.

COUNTDOWN TO LAUGHLIN
    A computer draw for qualifying positions for the Jan. 22-25 SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge put California’s Ed Stout in the first spot among SCORE Trophy-Trucks and New Mexico’s Josh Rigsby first in Class 1.
    The event at the Laughlin Events Center is the first of five races in the SCORE series.
    Among those pre-entered are Brendan Gaughan and Robby Gordon of NASCAR, B.J. Baldwin, Pat Dean, Rob MacCachren and Terrible Herbst Motorsports drivers Tim Herbst and Troy Herbst.
    More than 150 expected entries will compete in 17 classes for cars and trucks for nearly $400,000 in prize money and contingency postings during the four-day Challenge that includes the Laughlin Leap on the night of Jan. 22.
    The stadium seating area will include SCOREvision Large-screen LCD display, showing live footage from virtually the entire racecourse. Advance tickets are on sale at VisitLaughlin.com or by calling (800) 308.2233.