Ford Racing director Jamie Allison has quashed rumours that Richard Petty Motorsports could switch to Chevrolet next season, saying that his company is now ‘very close’ to inking a new deal with the famous team.
RPM has been the subject of great speculation in recent months as its contracts with Ford and its two drivers, Marcos Ambrose and Aric Almirola, all expire at season’s end.
Having openly held discussions with Dodge prior to the auto maker’s confirmation of its withdrawal from the sport at season’s end, a recent report from US news website Fox Sports claimed that RPM has subsequently had discussions about a possible switch to Chevrolet via a customer deal with Richard Childress Racing.
Although the arrival of Penske Racing into the Ford fold for 2013 has undoubtedly changed RPM’s position in the manufacturer’s racing portfolio, Allison says that the finalisation of a new agreement with RPM is imminent.
“All the pieces are in place,” he said.
“We’re working on giving them the tools so they can be competitive. It’s all going to work.”
Richard Petty meanwhile told the media at the weekend that, while no deals are done, he expects that “there is not going to be a lot of change for next year”.
Ambrose and RPM have repeatedly expressed a desire to extend the Australian’s two-year tenure with the team amid the uncertainty.
Ambrose currently sits 17th in the 2012 Sprint Cup Series standings after 27 of 36 races, five places clear of Almirola.
For more of the latest NASCAR news and analysis, visit Speedcafe US
