AJ Allmendinger - Photo Credit: Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR

In addition to the normal schedule of appearances, practice sessions, and the all-important qualifying, AJ will be part of a special event on Friday as he will be part of the opening day for a brand-new Best Buy in Columbus, Indiana.

The store opened its doors at 10:00 AM on Friday morning, and AJ will get a chance to check out the newest addition to the Best Buy family personally as he will be part of the opening day festivities by cutting the ribbon and then staging an autograph session starting at 6:30 PM Friday. The session is open to the public.  The store, located at  National and Taylor roads in the Clifty Crossing shopping center, opened the day by giving the first 50 visitors a $20 Best Buy gift cards.

“I’m looking forward to the opening of the Columbus Best Buy,” said AJ, who also visited an Orlando-area Best Buy earlier this week. “It is great to have a sponsor like Best Buy that continues to grow and I’m excited to be a part of it these events always turn out to be fun–even before someone turns Guitar Hero on! It is a busy race weekend, but I like it that way so hopefully we have a lot of people coming out to see us.”

Allmendinger has been posting consistently strong results in the No. 43, and will look to pick up where he left off at Chicago with another strong outing over the yard of bricks as he makes his 100th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race start.

About Walldinger Racing, Inc.: Walldinger Racing was formed in 2006 to support AJ Allmendinger’s motorsports career by developing commercial opportunities and partnership programs.

- A.J. Allmendinger, Press Release

Best Buy Racing/Richard Petty Motorsports

SADLER QUOTES:

ON THE 2009 SEASON: “I love to race as much as anyone, but I’m honestly really looking forward to the off-season to kind of reset mentally and physically. We have a lot of exciting and positive things going on here at Richard Petty Motorsports and I can’t wait to see how it all comes together. We are making a manufacturer switch, merging with another team and working to make our team as strong as possible heading into 2010.

“This year was full of twists and turns right from the start. We ended last season as Gillett Evernham Motorsports and started this year as Richard Petty Motorsports. To look at our team now from where we were a year ago at this time is really pretty staggering. Last year we only had two cars in the top-35 and a third car qualifying each week on time. Now we have Richard Petty a part of our team and we have four cars securely in the top-35 heading into Daytona. We’ve are headed in the right direction and I’m expecting great things in 2010.”

ADDITIONAL NOTES OF INTEREST:

· Richard Petty Motorsports drivers Elliott Sadler, Kasey Kahne and Reed Sorenson will drive Dodge Chargers for the final time in Sprint Cup Series competition before the anticipated off-season manufacturer switch to Ford prior to the 2010 season.

· Sadler was the first RPM driver to race a Ford Fusion in anticipation of a full manufacturer switch for 2010. Sadler finished ninth in RPM’s Ford debut.

· In 2009, Sadler has accumulated one top-five (Daytona 500), five top-10s (Last, Daytona-2) and ranks 26th in driver point standings.

· Collectively in 2009, RPM drivers have posted two wins, nine top-fives, 24 top-10s and have led 302 laps through the first 35 points races.

· In 10 starts at HMS, Sadler has one top-10 (ninth, 2002) and has led 18 laps.

· In 2009, Sadler has led 49 laps in nine races for a total of 45 bonus points. In 2008, Sadler led five races for a total of 21 laps.
· Wally Rogers replaced Kevin Buskirk as Sadler’s crew chief staring at Bristol-2.

· On Tuesday, Sept. 8, Sadler and wife Amanda announced they are expecting the birth of their first child in March 2010.

· Richard Petty’s pink cowboy hat, Sadler’s race used items – steering wheel, firesuit, gloves and shoes from the NASCAR Banking 500 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway are all currently up for auction at www.SadlerFoundation.org. All proceeds from the auction will benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure to help fight breast cancer.

· Join over 8,200 Richard Petty Motorsports fans on Facebook and view the latest news, videos and pictures, please click here.

· To follow Richard Petty Motorsports drivers during the race weekend and receive up-to-the minute in-race notes, please follow @RPMotorsports on Twitter.

· Follow @Elliott_Sadler on Twitter for off-season thoughts and updates.

- Richard Petty Motorsports, Press Release

Best Buy Racing/Richard Petty Motorsports

SADLER QUOTES:

ON MARTINSVILLE: “It’s all that’s good about short track racing. You show up with a car that’s perfect – not even a scratch on it – and when you pull in the garage after the race you can barely recognize it from all the beating and banging. You have to race as hard or harder at Martinsville than you do anywhere else, cause if you start towards the back you’re already a half lap down. This may be one of the toughest places to race, but it’s a throwback to how racing used to be around the southeast. This is the last track left from the original NASCAR schedule, kind of like a Fenway Park, but it’s as important to our sport now as it’s ever been. Plus, I would love to add a Ridgeway grandfather clock to my home, but I have to win it.”

ON FANS AS GRAND MARSHAL: “Honoring the fans as grand marshal is one heck of a cool idea. Martinsville does a lot of great things every year, but this is probably the best idea in a long time. And especially at a place like Martinsville that has been around since the very beginning. I think it’s really going to be something special and I’m looking forward to it.”

ADDITIONAL NOTES OF INTEREST:

· Collectively in 2009, RPM drivers have posted two wins, eight top-fives, 22 top-10s and have led 289 laps through the first 29 points races.

· Sadler recorded his only DNF of the 2009 season at California-2 snapping a tie with Tony Stewart for the longest streak of consecutive races without recording a DNF.

· In Sadler’s highest career Martinsville finish was fifth (2003-1). He has recorded two additional top-10 finishes (sixth – 2006-1, ninth – 2005-1).

· In 21 career starts at Martinsville, Sadler has an average start of 27.7 and a 25.0 average finish. He has led 49 laps and completed 96.5 percent (10,142/10,510) of the total laps.

· In 2009, Sadler has led 37 laps in eight races for a total of 40 bonus points. In 2008, Sadler led five races for a total of 21 laps.

· On Tuesday, Sept. 8, Sadler and wife Amanda announced they are expecting the birth of their first child in March 2010.
· Sadler’s No. 19 Dodge always features two ribbons next to his name above the driver’s side door—a pink breast cancer awareness ribbon in honor of his mother and a puzzle piece autism ribbon in honor of his niece.

· Best Buy store No. 434 (Roanoke, Va.) is featured between the hood pins of the No. 19 Dodge at Martinsville.

· The Best Buy team is bringing chassis No. 261 to Martinsville. Sadler raced No. 261 to an eighth place finish on Sept. 20 at New Hampshire. No. 256 will serve as backup.

· Wally Rogers replaced Kevin Buskirk as Sadler’s crew chief staring at Bristol-2.

· SPEED TV viewers can see Elliott Sadler co-host “Trackside Live” Friday nights for the rest of the 2009 season.

· Sirius XM’s listeners can tune in to channel 128 on Tuesday at 4:40 p.m. to hear Sadler’s weekly visit on Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody.

· Follow Elliott Sadler on Twitter by clicking HERE or by visiting www.twitter.com/ Elliott_Sadler.

- Richard Petty Motorsports, Press Release

AJ Allmendinger - Photo Credit Sam Greenwood/Getty Images

STATESVILLE, N.C—

ALLMENDINGER QUOTES:

ALLMENDINGER— “This might be the biggest race we have left this season. You always want to run well no matter where we race, but just about anyone whose involved in the sport shows up at Charlotte at some point during the weekend. It’s cool this will be my 75th race. It sure hasn’t been easy at times but it’s gone by pretty fast. I’m still learning. This is the toughest series in the world and they drivers that race here are as good as any other series. This is where I want to make my career. When you run well here you know you have beaten the best.”

ADDITIONAL NOTES OF INTEREST:

· Allmendinger will sign autographs at 4 p.m. on Saturday at the Petty merchandise trailer for the first 100 fans who obtain tickets.

· To join over 7,200 Richard Petty Motorsports fans on Facebook and view the latest news, videos and pictures please click here

· Follow Allmendinger and other Petty drivers at @rpmotorsports on Twitter.

· Fans visiting the Richard Petty Motorsports race shops in Statesville, N.C. are eligible for a 10 percent discount on souvenir merchandise if you are a Facebook or Twitter follower.

· The gift shop is located off exit 146 on I-40. Hours are 9 a.m.– 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The gift shop will also offer discounted merchandise this week.

· Visit www.richardpettymotorsports.com
· Richard Petty is one of the candidates for the inaugural NASCAR Hall of Fame scheduled to be announced Wednesday at 4 p.m.

· Saturday’s race marks Allmendinger’s 75th start in Sprint Cup racin and his sixth race at Charlotte.

· Allmendinger’s Walldinger Racing, Inc. is now officially headquartered in Charlotte.

· To read Allmendinger’s Racer.com columns please click here

· Allmendinger owns four top-10 finishes in 2009. He finished third at Daytona, seventh at Infineon and Dover and ninth at Martinsville.

· Allmendinger endured his first DNF of season Sunday in California. The Petty team owned only one DNF until last week at California when a multi-car accident eliminated all four cars.

- Richard Petty Motorsports, Press Release

2009 NSCS Elliott Sadler - (Photo Credit: Sam Greenwood/Getty Images for NASCAR)

STATESVILLE, N.C. –

INFORMATION ON THE ARMY SERVICEMEN HOSTED BY SADLER AT KANSAS:

· SFC Gilliam, 34, Brigade Maintenance Management NCO, 16-year vet, three deployments

· SSG Babineaux, 33, Transportation Management Specialist, 13-year vet, five deployments

· SGT King, 33, Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic and Recovery Specialist, 12-year vet, five deployments

Sadler Quotes:

SADLER ON HIS WEEKEND GUESTS: “I’m looking forward to hosting SFC Gilliam,SSG Babineaux and SGT King. These guys are huge NASCAR fans and Elliott Sadler fans. They got in contact with me several years ago over the Internet and we’ve stayed in touch ever since. Hopefully this is a nice little going away present for them this weekend. Everyone that knows me realizes I’m a huge supporter of our military. These guys fight for our freedom everyday and this is a chance for me to say, Thank you!”

Additional Notes of Interest:

· Sadler has finished 12th or better in four of the last five races at Kansas Speedway

· Sadler has started 10th or better in four of the eight races at Kansas Speedway, including two top-fives in the last four starts.

· Sadler is tied with Tony Stewart for the longest active non-DNF streak (51 races) of drivers that have competed in every race. Teammate Reed Sorenson now has the longest overall streak at 54 races, but did not compete last season at Infineon.

· Sadler’s last DNF occurred on June 1, 2008 at Dover. Both Sadler and Stewart were involved in the same on-track incident to start their current streaks.

· On Tuesday, Sept. 8, Sadler and wife Amanda announced they are expecting the birth of their first child in March 2010.

· SPEED TV viewers can see Elliott Sadler co-host “Trackside Live” Friday nights for the rest of the 2009 season.
· Best Buy store No. 1483 (Kansas City, Kan., located across the street from Kansas Speedway) is featured between the hood pins of the No. 19 Dodge at Kansas.

· The Best Buy team is bringing chassis No. 274 to Kansas. No. 274 raced to a 14th-place finish at Darlington, finished 12th at Michigan-1, and 25th at Michigan-2. Chassis 259 will serve as the backup.

· Collectively in 2009, RPM drivers have posted two wins, seven top-fives, 20 top-10s and have led 220 laps through the first 28 points races.

· Follow Richard Petty Motorsports for real-time in-race updates on Twitter at www.twitter.com/RPMotorsports.

· For the latest news and information on Richard Petty Motorsports become a fan on Facebook by clicking HERE or visiting: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Statesville-NC/Richard-Petty-Motorsports/47023671652

- Richard Petty Motorsports, Press Release

Best Buy Racing/Richard Petty Motorsports

Sadler Quotes

ON WATKINS GLEN: “Watkins Glen is going to be probably the most fun race of the year to watch on TV with the double-file restarts. It’s a big, wide race track that should allow for a lot of passing and some really great racing. I think it is going to be crazy from the drivers perspective, but just like with any road course—the trick is staying on the track and hitting your marks.”

ON ROAD COURSE RACING: “The two road courses that we visit each year are very different, so there are not a whole lot of similarities. The biggest key to any road course race is learning the racetrack. They are very technical compared to most of the ovals that we visit and a driver can have a lot more influence than they do at an oval. Staying on track, hitting your spot and being there at the end are really the most important parts to any road course.”

Additional Notes of Interest

· In the last 10 road races, including both Infineon and Watkins Glen, Sadler is second in total points trailing only Tony Stewart. He has an average finish of 12.3 and has completed every lap.

· In 10 starts at Watkins Glen, Sadler has one top-10 finish (2006), and five top-15 finishes (most recently 2008), including five of his last six starts. Sadler has finished on the lead lap in eight starts.

· Sadler finished on the lead lap of every race at The Glen from 2003–2008, a span of six consecutive races.

· Sadler is tied with Tony Stewart for the longest active DNF streak (44 races) of drivers that have competed in every race. Regan Smith is at 52 races, but has not competed in every race during that span.

· Chassis No. 243 started 8th and finished 10th at Infineon. No. 213 will serve as the backup for the second time this season (first Sonoma).
· In 2009, Sadler leads all Richard Petty Motorsports drivers in bonus points (35 points). All of his bonus points have come from leading laps.

· Elliott Sadler has officially become a member of the Twitter community. Follow Elliott’s updates by clicking HERE or by visiting www.twitter.com/Elliott_Sadler.

· Follow along with Richard Petty Motorsports each weekend for real-time in-race updates on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ RPMotorsports.

· Richard Petty Motorsports also posts pre-race advances, post-race reports, appearance notices, videos, photos and notes on its Facebook page: www.facebook.com/ RichardPettyMotorsports

· Best Buy Racing joined Twitter. To follow along, win prizes and get additional information on Best Buy Racing, please click here or visit http://twitter.com/ bestbuyracing19

- Richard Petty Motorsports, Press Release

AJ Allmendinger - Photo Credit Sam Greenwood/Getty Images

The former micro-midget driver gave up his racing career and, along with his wife Karen, made sacrifices to give their son an opportunity to pursue the dream Greg never had the money to reach.

The 27-year-old hopes a good race in the Best Buy Dodge at Infineon Raceway near his native Los Gatos California this weekend will be a fine Father’s Day gift for Greg.

ALLMENDINGER QUOTES

AJ ALLMENDINGER ON ROLE HIS DAD PLAYED IN CAREER- “He is everything in my career. Between him and my Mom, my Dad was racing before I was ever born so I feel like I was born at a race track. Growing up I watched him race at the local dirt tracks in Californian. He gave up racing so we could afford me racing. He is my biggest fan. He even has an AJ tattoo. He’s one of those Dad’s that is always a part of my career. I’m racing because of him.”

WOULD YOU DO SAME FOR YOUR CHILD SOME DAY? - “No. It’s way too ex­pensive…seriously, I don’t know if it would be the same thing for me. I’m fortunate enough to be doing this at the top level. He dreamed of racing, but he never had the opportunity to go big time racing. He’s my biggest fan.”

BEST FATHER’S DAY GIFT- “I won my first Champ car race in 2006 at Portland on Father’s Day. He was pretty pumped up about that. I wouldn’t mind that happen­ing again this weekend at Infineon. That would be awesome.”

GREG ALLMENDINGER ON SON’S CAREER- “Both Karen and I are very proud of AJ and what he has accomplished in his racing career. He hasn’t had it easy by any means. He’s had to work and struggle. But he’s never given up. We’ve helped, but he’s had to earn everything he has in life.”

FATHER’S DAY WISH- “Oh that’s easy. Let’s win this race on Sunday!”

- Richard Petty Motorsports, Press Release