Gillett Evernham scales back

Statesville-based Gillett Evernham Motorsports will lay off about 65 employees in several departments as part of scaling back its Nationwide Series program.

The No. 9 Dodge will run a partial schedule in the second-tier NASCAR series. The team will continue to field at least three Sprint Cup Series teams -- for Kasey Kahne, Elliott Sadler and Reed Sorenson -- and is in talks with Petty Enterprises to merge with that organization and house its famed No. 43.

GEM lost sponsor Unilever to JR Motorsports and doesn't have enough sponsorship in place to run the full Nationwide schedule.

KENSETH GETS NEW CREW CHIEF: Sprint Cup driver Matt Kenseth has a new crew chief, as Drew Blickensderfer will try to return the 2003 champion to Victory Lane. Kenseth's 2008 chief, Chip Bolin, will return to his role as team engineer after a winless season.

LENOVO TO SPONSOR MCLAREN: McLaren, the Formula One team based in Woking, England, has agreed to a sponsorship deal with computer firm Lenovo for 2009.

FORD STAYS IN WORLD RALLY: Ford will not follow Japanese automakers Subaru and Suzuki out of the World Rally Championship because of the global economic crisis. Citroen and 2006 and 2007 champion Ford will be the only manufacturers in the competition next season.