Gillett Evernham Motorsports curtails Nationwide team, engine department

By SceneDaily Staff
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
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Kasey Kahne drives Gillett Evernham Motorsports' No. 9 Dodge at Richmond International Raceway last May.

Doug Benc
Getty Images

Another NASCAR Nationwide Series has decided to cut back, as Gillett Evernham Motorsports officials said Tuesday its No. 9 Dodge would run a partial Nationwide schedule in 2009.

GEM lost sponsor Unilever to JR Motorsports after the ’08 season and was unable to find adequate sponsorship to run all 35 Nationwide races.

“We are a Sprint Cup team first and foremost, and winning in that series needs to be our primary focus,” Gillett Evernham Motorsports CEO Tom Reddin said in a statement. “The Nationwide Series is a fantastic series and we certainly look forward to racing a partial schedule in 2009, but we will not run the full season next year.

“We will remained focused on putting all of our effort behind the Cup program in 2009. GEM is very fortunate to have nearly all of our Cup sponsors returning in 2009 in addition to the new arrival of others.”

Reddin also said the team will restructure its engine department to align with a reduced number of engine leasing customers next season. GEM started 2008 with Petty Enterprises and Robby Gordon Motorsports leasing engines for three full-time Cup cars.

With GEM now in merger talks with Petty and RGM going to Toyota, GEM likely will have two fewer Cup engine programs to lease as well as not have the need for as many Nationwide engines.

A team spokesman confirmed that the team has laid off employees with the change in Nationwide and engine plans.

The Nationwide Series team has been in existence since 2002, when Tommy Baldwin originally owned it. Co-owner Ray Evernham purchased the assets in 2004.

The team finished 15th in the Nationwide owners standings this year, with Kasey Kahne, Elliott Sadler, Patrick Carpentier and Chase Miller driving.

Comments

14 responses to "Gillett Evernham Motorsports curtails Nationwide team, engine department". Post a Comment.
  1. 1
    Andrew Briscoe said:
    Dec 16, 2008 at 7:35 PM

    At the rate all the big name companies are cutting back, there might be a self-imposed rule of limiting Cup drivers racing in the lower series...

    It's sad that people were laid off because of this, but at least next year there won't be 30 Cup drivers in each race.

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  2. 2
    Marion Gainey 111 said:
    Dec 16, 2008 at 9:31 PM

    I know all teams are leting people go and making cutbacks,but with Ray gone and the rumor of the 10 team of Soreson being part time they are gong in the wrong direction.As a Kasey Kahne fan its time for Kahne to find a new home where, i dont know but,if 09 is like 08 then time to go im sure if Kahne became a free agent some power house will make room.I can see Kahne taking Budweiser with him to Stewart/Haas.Lets hope 2009 is like the 2006 season for Kahne or he will be part of silly season in 2009.

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  3. 3
    Sarah Oxfurth said:
    Dec 16, 2008 at 11:28 PM

    I'm wondering if it's NW that is going to end up going away. It seems that is being cut way more than the Cup series-or even trucks. That's sad.

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  4. 4
    Howard Englishman said:
    Dec 17, 2008 at 2:59 PM

    If you dont have Cup drivers in the Nationwide series there will be NO series. Little teams are closing up and you have to fill a field and sell tickets. Nobody likes the Cup driver but you have to have a field to race. Bottom line

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  5. 5
    Mike Butler said:
    Dec 17, 2008 at 3:45 PM

    I'd have to agree with Howard. These decisions for major teams to cut or pull out of Nationwide is going to hurt the younger drivers.... With fewer sponsors available for the NWS, they are going to want the best driver in their car. If there is a tier one driver wanting a ride, they are going to get it over someone else... I feel it is going to be the year of the 30 car fields and a lot of part time schedules for everyone. The winner of the NWS is going to be the one driver who races every race.

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  6. 6
    Pat Draper said:
    Dec 17, 2008 at 4:38 PM

    I have to agree with #4 & #5 You have to fill the field in the nationwide series. And lets face it with a few cup drivers it only makes the racing better. At least we know we will have Carl and Kyle racing for the championship in nationwide. From what i read they both are planning to run full time. And racing with the cup guys only makes the nationwide regulars better drivers

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  7. 7
    Keith Johnson said:
    Dec 17, 2008 at 5:42 PM

    Boy! Now I bet NASCAR wishes it would not have run off all the private Nationwide teams. NASCAR seems to support the big teams with all the money but now it will cost them with a low car count. I bet NASCAR is contacting all the smaller teams that quit to get them to come back. With all the Cup/Nationwide teams quiting or cutting back it does not look good for the Nationwide series.

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  8. 8
    Howard Englishman said:
    Dec 17, 2008 at 6:45 PM

    The teams didnt quit, there is no sponsorship money out there, they need to revamp the Nationwide series and Run the car they have with a $3000. manufacture crate motor like the local tracks and run Hoosier tires and you would have more teams than you would know what to do with but that is too easy for them. let them suffer.

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  9. 9
    Werner Boehmert said:
    Dec 17, 2008 at 7:53 PM

    we had a discussion once and thought that they should just combine the Sprint and Nationwide series...qualify all the cars...top 40 go to the Sunday show and the rest run in the Saturday show...

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  10. 10
    Werner Boehmert said:
    Dec 17, 2008 at 8:00 PM

    btw...Chrysler is shutting down all it's plants for 30 days...

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  11. 11
    Marion Gainey 111 said:
    Dec 17, 2008 at 10:29 PM

    GM,FORD,TOYOTA,HONDA are all halting a lot of production.CHRYSLER is no different than the others,dont get me wrong CHRYSLER is hurting but GM is in the same boat with CHRYSLER.As a MOPAR fan im glad they are trying to cut cost and save money.As far as nascar they have 2 teams now soon to be Gillett /Petty and Penske they didnt loose anything by leting Ganassi go.Good luck to CHRYSLER and all the american automakers in 2009. GO KASEY KAHNE with his #9 BUDWEISER DODGE CHARGER in 2009 !!!

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  12. 12
    Kirk Grosch said:
    Dec 18, 2008 at 7:45 AM

    Surprised anyone?

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  13. 13
    bill thompson said:
    Dec 18, 2008 at 11:31 AM

    an you read these comments france

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  14. 14
    Karen said:
    Dec 18, 2008 at 6:23 PM

    No, I am not surprised they are cutting the Nationwide team; the junior league drivers suck! Would you run the Miller kid again? I could see running the cup drivers because they actually make a few bucks, and they get some good practise for the cup race the next night. No matter what they do I'm still behind the #9!

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