NASCAR Sprint-Cup Series
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CUP: Francis Will Finish Season
Crew chief Kenny Francis says he plans on staying at RPM through rest of 2010 season...
Bob Pockrass  | http://www.scenedaily.com  |  Posted October 22, 2010   Martinsville, VA
Kasey Kahne (Left) and crew chief Kenny Francis (Right) have enjoyed a lengthy run together in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. (Photo: LAT Photographic)
Kenny Francis said he plans to finish out the year with Richard Petty Motorsports as crew chief of the No. 9 car, and while he couldn’t say whether the organization would definitely finish the season, he said the attitude in the shop became more optimistic Thursday.

Francis will join former RPM driver Kasey Kahne at Red Bull Racing next season. But while Kahne steps into the Red Bull No. 83 seat for the first time this weekend for the Tums Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway, Francis was in the garage Friday morning continuing to work for RPM and will serve as crew chief for Kahne’s interim replacement, Aric Almirola, this weekend.

Almirola was initially slated to drive the Red Bull entry at Martinsville in this weekend's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series rce..

Although rumors swirled that any RPM crewman going to Red Bull had been released from RPM on Thursday, Francis said all of his crew members on the No. 9 team are still with the organization.

“My obligation is until the end of the year, and if that’s what they want me to do, that’s what I’ll do,” Francis said. “That’s the right thing to do. I want to help these guys out as much as I can.

“I’ve been part of this company for a long time, and I want to keep doing the best I can. They’ve got good cars and good stuff and I want to support Richard [Petty] and everything he’s done for us.”

Although there is some uncertainty whether the team could continue beyond this weekend, Francis said the team has its cars for Talladega next week. The team has not yet named a driver for the No. 9 car for the final four races of 2010.

“I can’t speculate on [the future] – I don’t know what they’ve got going on,” Francis said. “I know the attitude got a lot better [Thursday]. The uncertainty kind of went away. I thought there were some good signs.

“I don’t know what is going on. I don’t have a clue. Hopefully all the good signs I was seeing are good. The general attitude of everyone raised up a notch, and that is the biggest thing.”

Ironically, the No. 9 and No. 83 haulers are parked next to each other in the garage here this weekend.

“We’re still looking forward to running here,” Francis said. “We’ve got Aric. He’s done real good here and he’s a real good guy.”

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