If this report is true. Today is truly a bad day for NASCAR.

Petty Enterprises is in discussions to merge its storied franchise with Gillett Evernham Motorsports, The Associated Press has learned.

Multiple people familiar with the talks told the AP that the two teams are discussing a deal that would merge Petty’s No. 43 Dodge with GEM to become a four-car operation. They requested anonymity because the negotiations are ongoing.

Petty Enterprises has been around as long as there has been NASCAR. In fact, Petty is the last organization still around that participated in the first Daytona 500.

If nothing else, this “merger” signals the slow death of the NASCAR we all knew and loved.

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