Evernham Motorsports

The Evernham Shop in 2005.
Evernham Motorsports was founded in 2000 by former crew chief Ray Evernham, who won three championships atop the pit box for Jeff Gordon and Hendrick Motorsports. Evernham was named a team manager and owner for Daimler Chrysler's return to NASCAR's top level through their Dodge brand, leading the development of the Intrepid R/T race car that debuted in 2001. The team also operated with direct factory backing and sponsorship from Dodge. The team originally operated out of the former facility of Bill Elliott Racing.

In August 2007, then Montreal Canadiens and Liverpool F.C. owner George N. Gillett Jr. purchased a majority stake in the race team. The operation was renamed Gillett Evernham Motorsports, with Ray Evernham retaining substantial ownership and the role of CEO. Evernham stated the partnership would allow him to focus on "racing operations and team performance", with the Gillett family handling the business end of the operation. GEM proceeded to hire several financial executives to assist with corporate marketing, including former chairman of LendingTree Tom Reddin to replace Evernham as CEO.

At the beginning of the 2008 season, GEM signed a technical and marketing agreement with independent driver Robby Gordon, with plans to eventually absorb Robby Gordon Motorsports into the GEM stable. Under the terms of the alleged merger, Gordon would sell his one-car-operation to GEM for $23.5 million, then receive a four-year contract worth $12 million to drive for the team. The deal fell through, with GEM suing Gordon for violating the terms of the agreement.

After the 2008 season, turmoil emerged when A. J. Allmendinger and Reed Sorenson were signed to drive for the team, while Elliott Sadler was released from his ride in the 19 car and planned to sue the team to keep his job. In the midst of a struggling economy, in January 2009 GEM merged with fellow Dodge team Petty Enterprises, which could no longer find sponsors for any of its cars, thus expanding the team to four cars. The organization was renamed Richard Petty Motorsports in the process. Ray Evernham was not involved in the merger negotiations, and both he and Richard Petty only maintained minority shares in the new team.

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^ Cite error: The named reference ESPN-Sponsors-Creative-2008 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

^ Gillett Evernham Motorsport (February 2, 2008). "Gillett Evernham Motorsports & Robby Gordon Motorsports Sign Technical, Manufacturing & Marketing Agreement STATESVILLE, N.C. -- Feb. 1, 2008 - Gillett Evernham Motorsports today announced a technical, manufacturing and marketing services ..." motorsport.com. Statesville, North Carolina: motorsport.com. Retrieved November 1, 2014.

^ ESPN.com news services (September 5, 2008). "Gillett Evernham Motorsports sues Robby Gordon". espn.go.com. ESPN. Retrieved November 1, 2014.

^ "Sorenson signs with GEM". Evernhammotorsports.com. August 26, 2008. Archived from the original on November 22, 2010. Retrieved November 27, 2010.

^ Cite error: The named reference Autoweek-Allmendinger-Sadler-08 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

^ Newton, Dave (January 5, 2009). "Sadler may sue GEM for No. 19 rights". espn.go.com. Charlotte, North Carolina: ESPN. Retrieved November 1, 2014.

^ Cite error: The named reference AutoWeek-G