Petty Enterprises, Labonte Part Ways

Petty Enterprises and Bobby Labonte, driver of PE’s No. 43 have parted ways amidst rumors of PE trying to negotiate a deal to merge with Gillett Evernham Motorsports.

PE has not been able to secure sponsorship for the 2009 season for its storied No. 43 entry. While the team has said that if a merger were to fall through, it would still field the No. 43 car, some believe that it would not be likely without the merger.

Labonte, who earlier this year signed a contract extension with the team, has been linked to Ganassi-Earnhardt Racing’s No. 41 entry, the only full time ride with full sponsorship for next season without a driver.

Labonte said:

I am, and will always be, very appreciative of what Richard Petty and the Petty family, every employee of Petty Enterprises and members of Boston Ventures did to invest in bettering my career the past three seasons. Moving forward, I’m very anxious to prepare for the 2009 season. I do not currently have a contract with any other team for 2009, but I am ready to explore all opportunities and form the next partnership in my career.

DEI, Petty To Merge?

Rumor has it that Dale Earnhardt Inc. and Petty Enterprises are in talks to merge, but how a DEI-Petty deal would work remains unclear.

Earlier this year, Boston Ventures purchased a significant stake in Petty Enterprises. The team is seeking a sponsor for Bobby Labonte and its No. 43 Dodge, which lost General Mills to Richard Childress Racing’s No. 33 team and driver Clint Bowyer.

The team is also said to be at odds with Kyle Petty, who could leave and take the team’s only major sponsor, Wells Fargo, with him.

DEI is also searching for sponsorship, after US Army bolted for Stewart Haas Racing’s No. 39 and driver Ryan Newman. Paul Menard is leaving at the end of the season to go to Yates Racing, and he is taking his Menards sponsorship with him, leaving DEI with Bass Pro Shops as its only sponsor, on Martin Truex Jr.’s No 1 Chevy. DEI currently has Regan Smith and Aric Almirola on its roster, but sponsors for neither team.