After Richard Petty Motorsports reached an agreement with Hunt Brothers Pizza to sponsor the team’s No. 44 car and driver AJ Allmendinger for seven races, the team has picked up Allmenginer’s option, locking him up until 2010.

Joe Gibbs Racing expressed interest in Allmendinger, due to his on track results. He currently sits 20th in points, a little over 100 points out of the Chase.

There are conflicting reports as to whether JGR was interested in Allmendinger for a fourth team, or to replace a struggling Joey Logano in the Home Depot No. 20.