Richard Petty Motorsports and Yates Racing will merge in 2010, with a four-car team expected to run Ford cars under the RPM name. Yates driver Paul Menard will join RPM drivers Kasey Kahne, Elliott Sadler and A.J. Allmendinger next year.

"This is a pretty big deal for us," said Richard Petty. "We're thrilled to partner with Ford. We've talked with a lot of folks, but in the end it came down to the success the Gilletts and I think we can achieve with Ford Racing."

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RPM managing partner Foster Gillett added: "If you are going to compete with the other teams in this sport, you need a lot of support. We bring a lot to this relationship as well. We've won twice this season and the power of Richard Petty is hard to beat, plus we have the support of some of the biggest names in corporate in America."

Brian Wolfe, director of Ford North America Motorsports, added: "We will work with them closely on the technical front to help them become even more competitive than they are. What's also really good to me is the chance to have someone with the class and the legacy of Richard Petty involved with Ford."