NASCAR Cup Series

Sources: Petty shakeup claims team president

Published Dec. 15, 2009 5:01 a.m. ET

foxsports

Rick Russell is the latest casualty in the Richard Petty Motorsports/Yates Racing merger.

The president of the team has parted ways with the company, sources told FOXSports.com.

Russell, who had been with Evernham Motorsports since its inception in 2000, came to the company following a seven-year stint with Action Performance (currently Motorsports Authentics) where he served as vice president and general manager.

Russell was promoted to President of Evernham Motorsports in January 2007. His responsibilities previously had included the roles of general manager and chief financial officer. Russell was instrumental in the Evernham Motorsports merger with George Gillett in 2007 and the evolution of Richard Petty Motorsports at the end of 2008.

Max Jones, principal of the team formerly known as Yates Racing, will assume Russell's position sources told FOXSports.com.