Allmendinger lands ride with Petty Motorsports for at least first eight races

MOORESVILLE, N.C. -- A.J. Allmendinger will drive the No. 44 Dodge for Richard Petty Motorsports in the season-opening Budweiser Shootout and at least the first eight NASCAR Sprint Cup races this season.

The team, formed from the merger of Petty Enterprises and Gillett Evernham Motorsports, wants to put together a sponsorship package that would guarantee the 27-year-old Allmendinger's participation in the rest of the 2009 races and the 2010 season.

"This is pretty awesome news for me," said Allmendinger, who also will compete in the July Cup race at Daytona. "I just want to get behind the wheel of a race car and race."

This will be Allmendinger's third NASCAR season. He was part of the GEM team for the last five races of 2008.