As Richard Petty Motorsports prepares for the full merger with Yates Racing before the 2010 NASCAR season, the team made 47 job cuts yesterday and more are expected today.

Due to the fact that Roush Yates Engines will be used by the team next year, the current engine department at RPM has become obsolete. 14 employees in the engine shop will be retained through the end of the season but no new motors will be needed so the rest will be cut.

The car shop staff will also see cuts. Each team will reportedly operate with 17 crew members a piece and the rest will be forced to leave.

HardcoreRaceFans.com will have updates on this situation as they become available.

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