Click Here To Find Cool Nascar Items!

Filed under: Dodge, NASCAR

As announcements came down the last two weeks detailing the future of driver Kasey Kahne and revealing the direction of Richard Petty Motorsports, it felt like a long good-bye was at last complete -- the days when Richard Petty Motorsports was Evernham Motorsports done and gone.

But the NASCAR team's original namesake, Ray Evernham, told FanHouse.com Wednesday he's not really sentimental about the complete metamorphosis of the one-time championship contending operation he built from scratch.

"Obviously there's a certain sentimental value looking at what we had all hoped it would become and knowing that it didn't,'' Evernham said. "The reality is the (George) Gillett family now owns the majority interest and has had control for years. It's no different than if you sell your house or your car.''

"It's not the path I would have taken, but they own the controlling interests and the path they take is theirs," he said.

"Eventually the Ray Evernham DNA will be completely removed."

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Click Here To Find Cool Nascar Items!

Filed under: Kasey Kahne, Mark Martin, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Sprint Cup, Hendrick Motorsports, NASCAR

SPEEDWAY, Ind. -- Mark Martin's terse attitude concerning his oft-questioned future at Hendrick Motorsports continued Friday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, with the 51-year-old driver saying he felt disrespected by the incessant questions.

"I'm going to do what I want to do, but for now I'm going to drive the No. 5 car," Martin said. "That's what I'm going to do in 2011. That's what I've said all along, and I felt very disrespected when the media doesn't accept that."

Martin is part of a plan that brings Kasey Kahne to Hendrick Motorsports in 2012. Kahne will leave his Richard Petty Motorsports No. 9 at the close of this season, drive a to-be-determined car in the Sprint Cup Series in 2011 and then fill Martin's No. 5 in 2012.

Martin said when the Kahne deal was announced that he was in favor of and supported HMS signing Kahne for 2012 because he would only commit to running a full 2011 season. As a result of Kahne's status still being undecided, the questions and rumors of where both Kahne and Martin will actually drive in 2011 have increased -- much to Martin's chagrin.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Click Here To Find Cool Nascar Items!

by Geoffrey Miller

Filed under: Jeff Gordon, Sprint Cup, Hendrick Motorsports

10 years ago Saturday -- Sept. 26, 1999 -- was the end of an era for Jeff Gordon.

For as long as Gordon had been a NASCAR Sprint Cup driver, Ray Evernham had been his crew chief. The run produced three championships and 47 wins but came to end when Evernham decided to start his own venture into Sprint Cup ownership. The questions came quickly.

Would Jeff Gordon have the same success? Or would the loss of Evernham spell the end of Gordon's reign in NASCAR?

10 years later, Gordon's success has proved that Gordon could go it alone just fine, but also leaves the question of what could have been.

10 Years After Evernham's Hendrick Exit, Jeff Gordon Still a Force in NASCAR originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Sat, 26 Sep 2009 21:59:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments