GEM/Carpentier  to secure a major  sponsor

UPDATE #2 Comments from #10-Patrick Carpentier about his future plans with GEM: “You know, I really wish I’d know because they haven’t told me. We talked and they said ‘We need a little bit more time’ so I said that’s fine. We’re going to start talking to other teams too and other guys. I know a couple of teams talked to Robert and we’ll see what happens. I like this team. I’d like to stay there. I think the #10 is getting better and better and the guys do such a great job. For me I’d be disappointed not to keep going on the work that we’ve been doing so hopefully it works well for us and I’m right here where I’m at for next year." IS THERE A SENSE OF URGENCY? “For me, I would have signed myself in January for three years [laughs]. We’ll see. You know it’s their decision and I’m pretty confident it’s going to stay the way it is. I know a few sponsors seems to want to get back and we’ve got most of the season for next year so we’re waiting on a few things but if it works out we’ll be there. They told me it’s looking good right here. They said just be patient. We need to change a few things around and then we’re going to let you know but it’s most likely going to be positive. So hopefully that’s what it is and they said if not they’ll let me know so we’ll see what it is." Raybestos/Camp & Assoc PR

08/1/08 Gillett Evernham will decide Aug. 15 if Carpentier will be with the team in 2009. A boost to Carpentier's contract renewal would be a top-35 finish in owner's points, guaranteeing his Dodge a starting spot in the first five races of next season. Carpentier is four spots behind that cutoff, still forced to qualify his way into each race. But he has only missed three races this year, two because rain canceled qualifying and the third for a blown tire. Qualifying, Carpentier says, is the easy part.

03/04/08 While sponsorship woes sidelined Jacques Villeneuve's NASCAR career this season, it appears the same will not happen to fellow Canadian Patrick Carpentier.

Gillett Evernham Motorsports co-owner George Gillett says they are on the verger of signing a sponsor for the No. 10 Dodge. Carpentier currently has partial primary sponsorship from Valvoline this season.

"I'm happy to report as recently as last night, we have a verbal agreement, which is being put into writing today, for a major, major, major new sponsor for the 10 car," Gillett said Tuesday.

"It's very exciting for all of us and the sponsors."

While several Sprint Cup teams report the search for sponsorship has been difficult due to a softening of the U.S. economy, Gillett says that has actually created opportunity.

"What we're finding is the really smart and sophisticated marketers are coming to us now and saying, 'Boy, oh boy, this is the time that we're going to put the pedal to the metal.'" TSN.ca