Mike Wallace, AJ Allmendinger to replace Patrick Carpentier

Patrick Carpentier has been released from his duties as the driver of the Gillett Evernham Motorsports No. 10 Sprint Cup entry for the remainder of the season, team officials announced Tuesday. Mike Wallace will drive this weekend at Lowe's Motor Speedway with AJ Allmendinger taking over for the remaining five races.

Allmendinger will take over driving duties beginning with the Oct. 19 race at Martinsville Speedway. He had already committed to drive the Michael Waltrip Racing No. 00 this weekend.

Carpentier drove the car in 24 races this season. The team has been outside the top 35 in owners points all year and has needed to qualify based on speed week to week.

“We certainly appreciate all the effort that Patrick Carpentier made for us this year. But, our job is to put ourselves in a position to win races plus we’re striving to get the No. 10 into the top 35 in points. We feel AJ gives us the best chance to do both," said Mark McArdle, the team’s vice president and managing director of competition.

“AJ has a lot of talent and if you look at his numbers you will see that he’s only run in 38 races in his career. I think the more experience he gets the better results you are going to see and I hope that starts at Martinsville. He’s demonstrated in open wheel he has the talent and I think his performance two weeks ago proves his worth in a stock car."

Allmendinger finished a career-best ninth at Kansas, driving the No. 84 Red Bull Racing entry.

“I’m excited about this news," he said. “GEM has great equipment and I’m confident we can take these final five races and get the No. 10 up in points. I know we have a lot of work to do, but we are going to give it our best shot. I’m looking forward to spending some time with crew chief Mike Shiplett and the guys starting at Martinsville."

Reed Sorenson will assume the driving duties of the No. 10 at the beginning of the 2009 season. Scenedaily.com