Roush Fenway Racing announced that electronic retailer Best Buy was coming aboard to sponsor drivers Matt Kenseth and Carl Edwards in 2012. The Best Buy logo and colors will adorn the #17 Ford driven by Kenseth for nine events and the #99 Ford of Edwards for two events.
Kenseth, who won three races in 2011, will also run at-least one race with Valvoline as the primary sponsor.
Previously Best Buy had been the primairy sponsor of the #43 Ford of Richard Petty Motorsports. AJ Allmendinger had driven that car the last two seasons and Best Buy had been the primary sponsor for 24 events in 2011.
Allmendinger’s time at RPM may also be up as the organization is in scramble mode after the leaving of Best Buy. Kurt Busch had been reported as a possiable replacement in the #43 car but David Ragan who was released from his ride in the #6 at Roush Fenway is now considered a possiable replacement. Allmendinger may end up driving the #22 Penske Racing Dodge next season with sponsorship in the form of Shell Pennzoil. Ragan had previously been considered a possability to drive the #22 car.
Either way the Best Buy sponsorship switch from RPM to RFR is a major blow to the #43 team. Last season they finished 15th in the driver standings with Allmendinger and were more competitive then the lone top-5 and 10 top-10’s suggest.
While team owner Jack Roush had stated he would run the #17 of Kenseth sponsored if necessary there is no word if Richard Petty and company would do the same for the famed #43 car.
The times may be tough to make a large financial commitment to a race team but considered it’s a decent team and the famed #43 car I would find it hard to believe that the car runs any events without sponsorship in 2012.
