Race Weekend Central

Stanley Tools to Leave RPM, Join Edwards at Joe Gibbs Racing

Richard Petty Motorsports may have to find a new driver in the No. 9 Ford, come 2015 if Marcos Ambrose leaves for Australia. But there’s one thing we now know for sure: no matter who drives their second Sprint Cup car, more sponsorship is needed by February.

According to a report from Lee Spencer of Motorsport.com, Stanley Tools announced internally last week that the brand will become a primary sponsor of the No. 19 Toyota Camry of Carl Edwards  in 2015. That ends their partnership with RPM, a financial deal that amounted to 17 races throughout the course of last season. Stanley Tools will partner with Edwards, who has been known to be a tremendous asset to any brand he represents, including Ford Motor Company, who he’ll part ways with after the 2014 season as he departs Roush-Fenway Racing.

Ambrose, 38, a two-time Sprint Cup series race winner, has been rumored over the 2014 season to be on his way out of the sport, and to be re-joining a V8 Supercar team in his native Australia.

Over his seven years in the Sprint Cup series, Ambrose has not seen the kind of results that Richard Petty and company believed the three-time Australian V8 Supercar Champion would have inside a stock car.

According to Spencer, “the belief is that Stanley will sponsor less races but will get a better return on their investment by sponsoring Edwards who produces better finishes than Ambrose.”   It has already been officially announced that Edwards will also have races sponsored by telecommunications company Arris on his No. 19 Toyota in 2015.

During the announcement of Edwards to JGR August 19th, the organization alluded to another sponsor coming on board from another team currently in the sport.

About the author

Greg has been with Frontstretch since 2014. A life-long NASCAR follower armed with an extensive sport and digital marketing background, Greg assists the marketing team and helps to manage relationships with some of the website's sponsors. From time to time his work appears on Frontstretch, focusing on the business side of racing and how financial partnerships are affecting the sport. He and his family reside in southern Connecticut.

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