Petty Motorsports dumps Dodge, defects to Ford

Richard Petty Motorsports and Yates Racing say they have signed a letter of intent to merge operations for the 2010 season. In a blow to Mopar fans, the four-car team will be driving Fords under the Richard Petty Motorsports banner.

Paul Menard will transfer to the Petty team, joining Kasey Kahne, Elliott Sadler and A.J. Allmendinger. Reed Sorenson, currently driving Petty’s famed No. 43, will not be back with the team next year.

This isn’t Petty’s first dalliance with the Blue Oval, He won nine of his 200 career victories driving Fords in 1969. Kasey Kahne got his start in Fords, driving for Yates Racing in the Nationwide Series.