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Gillett trying to calm the chaos at RPM

The Associated Press

The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 4, 2009

KANSAS CITY, Kan. - George Gillett says the proposed merger between Richard Petty Motorsports and Yates Racing is still on track, and the new organization will field at least three teams in 2010.

Gillett is the majority owner of RPM, a team that has appeared to be in a state of chaos this year as it has adjusted to the slumping economy and the affects from Chrysler's reorganization.

But Gillett says the team is on pace for an improved 2010 and he's confident in the organizations' stability.

Gillett is a very busy man these days, all the while trying to keep Kasey Kahne on track for a NASCAR championship.

Kahne heads into today's race at Kansas Speedway last in the 12-driver Chase for the championship standings, 189 points behind leader Mark Martin. His bid for a first title comes amid an appearance of chaos at RPM, and Kahne admitted just two weeks ago that he wasn't sure what is going on with the organization.

Gillett sought to calm a storm that has been brewing most of this season but seemed to explode after the Sept. 10 announcement that RPM and Yates had signed a letter-of-intent to merge.

"When we issued the press release regarding the LOI, that seemed not the right way to do it in retrospect," Gillett said. "We raised more questions than we answered."

Gillett dismissed the notion that Kahne is in the dark.

"Kasey has been fully aware of and apprised of the conversations going on," he said.

NATIONWIDE: Joey Logano passed points leader Kyle Busch with three laps left Saturday at Kansas Speedway, pulling out his fourth Nationwide victory just a week after crashing in Dover.

Logano flipped his car seven times last week, but showed no signs of fear in Kansas, overcoming a bobble with four laps left before passing Busch for the victory.

Busch led 173 of the 200 laps on the 1.5-mile oval and has led 2,226 laps this season, breaking the season series record of 2,127 set by Sam Ard in 1984.

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