Sources: Earnhardt Ganassi Racing suspends operation of Aric Almirola's Cup team
By Bob Pockrass - Associate Editor
Tuesday, April 07, 2009
Earnhardt Ganassi Racing has suspended operation of its No. 8 NASCAR Sprint Cup team with driver Aric Almirola.
David Griffin
NASCAR Scene
Earnhardt Ganassi Racing has suspended operation of the No. 8 NASCAR Sprint Cup team while the organization continues to look for sponsorship for the car and driver Aric Almirola, according to sources familiar with the situation.
The move comes as no surprise as team co-owner Chip Ganassi said at the beginning of the season that the team needed sponsorship to run the full year. Team president Steve Lauletta said last month that the team would race through the April 5 event at Texas Motor Speedway, but needed additional sponsorship to run more races. He said sponsorship prospects were more promising for later in the season than for races in the spring.
Almirola began his NASCAR career at Joe Gibbs Racing before signing with Ginn Racing and then joining Dale Earnhardt Inc. when it merged with Ginn in 2007. He shared a Cup ride with Mark Martin for the second half of the 2007 season and in 2008 and was slated by DEI to run a full schedule in 2009. DEI merged with Chip Ganassi Racing last November, and Almirola’s 2009 season has been in limbo without sponsorship.
Almirola said last Friday that he didn’t know what his future held.
“I’ve put so much in my heart and soul and focus that I have going on right here, I don’t have a Plan B,” Almirola said. “I haven’t walked around and worked on a Plan B yet because I’m so focused on Plan A. That’s what I’m really worried about and concerning myself with.
“I need to do the best job I can to keep this going right now rather than worry about anything else.”
Almirola is 37th in the driver standings, and the No. 8 team is 37th in the owners standings, 59 points out of the 35th and cutoff position for a guaranteed starting spot.
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29 responses to "Sources: Earnhardt Ganassi Racing suspends operation of Aric Almirola's Cup team". Post a Comment.
gwen susie said:
Apr 7, 2009 at 7:53 PMI feel so bad for this guy! He seems as though he has a love and passion for the sport! I hate he got caught up in all the mess of DEI's problems!! I am glad Mark Martin got out when he did! I wonder if Teresa Earnhardt could do things over again if she would?? I don't pull for Earnhardt Ganassi racing but I hope someone would grab this kid up and put him on another racing team!
Carol Haines said:
Apr 7, 2009 at 8:09 PMI agree Gwen,I really feel sorry for him and the employees who lost jobs. I find it hard however to feel for the owners.
john arturi said:
Apr 7, 2009 at 8:50 PMall the employees are still working. he was lucky to be racing as long as he did.
Anonymous said:
Apr 7, 2009 at 11:06 PMI think they should have suspended Teresa and
run the 8 car all year from here pocket.
wouldn't have that problem if JR owned that car
which he should of had. GO JUNIOR !!!!
willie sims said:
Apr 8, 2009 at 5:17 AM#4
typical know nothing non driver's fan....
chris Stephens said:
Apr 8, 2009 at 8:23 AMObviously Teresa jumped in way over her head and she's been drowning ever since, I had hoped Ganassi could restore confidence in the sponsors but I guess there was to much damage done . Goodluck to all the drivers at EGR.
Joshua Rainier said:
Apr 8, 2009 at 8:29 AMIf Dale Earnhardt Jr. had 51% of that company, sponsorship for the 8 car would be a non-issue and those people would not be out of jobs. Theresa's stubborness or greed or whatever it was has probably ruined a good race team. And Almirola deserves a ride, more so than the likes of Logano. But what do I know? I wonder if JR Motorsports will be competing at the cup level with Hendrick equipment in the future. That may be Keselowski's doorway to cup, unless Mark martin gives up the reins of the 5 car.
J C said:
Apr 8, 2009 at 10:00 AMIt's really sad that the 8 won't be on the track. It's so easy to try to set blame but in reality it's the economy, not TE or Jr or anyone else. It's hard for any team to find sponsorship right now. Sure hope that something will come up for them.
Michael Daly said:
Apr 8, 2009 at 11:54 AMAs much as I dislike Chip Ganassi because he was a money guy, disbanding a team is never good for the sport and this is what is happening with the #8 - they won't be back because there is no sponsorship to be found. Joshua Ranier, Dale Junior can't even keep sponsors for JR Motorsports - Junior didn't warrant getting 51% of DEI because he wasn't fit to run it. Theresa didn't ruin the team, the sport's insane economics did that.
Johnny Come Lately said:
Apr 8, 2009 at 2:31 PMYes Aric is a great guy and strong driver given the right scenario. This was not the right scenario. Its hard to be a part time driver. Im sure he felt he was always in the back seat.
What I would like to see happen, is have him go over to the 96 and replace Bobby Labonte, thus allowing him the opportunity to retire, which is something he should have done....oh.....I dont know....say about 5 seasons ago?
Kyle Newton said:
Apr 8, 2009 at 2:40 PMAric wasnt doing all that good anyway the only track he got top tens at last year was Bristol and Talladega, but not a good finish a few weeks ago. As for the Jr. leaving a couple of years ago. I think he was not meant to drive for very long. He used to be a contender, but I think he is more of the owner type. He brought his own team Jr. Motorsports to win, and his ownership expertice helped Martin Truex Jr. win back to back championships. Jr. is a better owner than he is a driver. He won 1 race last year. He cant compare to Jimmie, Mark, or Jeff, or deffinatly not Brad K, Brad has a lot of talent. He reminds me of Jimmie Johnson when he first started out. Aric and Dale Jr. are just ok drivers, in my book
Joshua Rainier said:
Apr 8, 2009 at 2:56 PMTo Daly, are we to believe that the 8 car would not have a sponsor with Dale Jr. behind the wheel? Bad economy or not, that car would be red with Bud painted on the hood, not painted with a number 1 instead to be driven by another team.
Lawton Coonts said:
Apr 8, 2009 at 3:30 PMSmoke was correct. "Without Jr. DEI is a Museum.
Sheila Taylor said:
Apr 8, 2009 at 3:47 PMI beleive in my heart that the 8 should be given to Jr since that is the car he started his career in. By her keeping the number she only brought it down, there was no way a no name driver was gonna be able to get sponsership like Jr was. I know sponsers are getting rare but between the two Jr would get sponser not just because what who he is but because of what he has done. The whole situtation is just sad. Too bad Dale Sr is gone and so will DEI be one day because of pride and not responsibility. DEI was created for Dale's children. Now not even his grandchild is driving for them.
Timothy Schultze said:
Apr 8, 2009 at 3:51 PMBudweiser is pulling kenny bernstein's sponsorship at the end of the year Kasey kahne's sponsorship runs out in 2010 watch no more big budweiser sponsorship.
Doc Lehman said:
Apr 8, 2009 at 4:23 PM#15 Timothy: The tobacco companys have long gone and the Brewing Companys are soon to go. Surely, you won't see any banks or Credit Card Companys step up.I guess it's down to the Ambulance-Chasing Lawyers to start sponsership.
What-Say-You?
Sam Steadman said:
Apr 8, 2009 at 5:41 PMHow much longer is Matin Truex, Jr. going to be able to keep Bass Pro Shops on his car if Earnhardt Ganassi doesn't start performing? I know he's not happy with their performance. I'm guessing they will be down to 2 cars after the season ends. This is not looking good for not only GE but NASCAR in general. Can you say..."Field Fillers".
Nick Doneilo said:
Apr 8, 2009 at 5:53 PMI don't know what Johnny is thinking, but Bobby Labonte is a great driver. I guess he's just another fan with no respect to the veterans who have made this sport so popular and exciting. Go Veterans!!!!!!!!!!
Anonymous said:
Apr 8, 2009 at 6:11 PMTHIS IS JUST AN IDEA I HAVE BECAUSE I WAS A BIG FAN OF DALE SR.AND RICHARD CHILDRESS IF TERSA WAS GOING TO MERGE WITH ANYONE I WISH IT HAD BEEN RICHARD CHILDRESS NOW THERE IS YOUR CHEVY MAN HIM AND DALE SR.THEY WAS JUST GOOD.THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A GOOD FIT FOR DEI INC.CHILDRESS AND EARNHARDT.
Werner Boehmert said:
Apr 8, 2009 at 6:56 PM#19...DEI and RCR did have a merger...motor wise...i still believe even if Jr had stayed things would still be like they are now...races need to be won to get keep sponsorship...remember if JR Motorsports is having a hard time finding sponsorship...
Howard Englishman said:
Apr 9, 2009 at 2:37 AMDEI was Formed by Teresa and Sr. It was not meant to be for the kids at all. It was for Sr and Teresa for when Sr. quit driving, and that's why it was Srs wishes that Teresa own 100% when he died. If Sr wanted the kids involved he would have stated it in the will. Dale wants no part of the #8 and if EGR chooses not to use it, it reverts back to NASCAR to be used by another team.Dale cant even get sponsorship for his Nationwide team and that's why he merged with HMS. DEI was bound to fail with or without Dale there. Teresa lost all interest in it when Sr, died and I don't blame her a bit for letting it fall. Without Sr. there it was nothing, He pulled the sponsors in, nobody else.Not even Dale Jr.
still4da88 said:
Apr 9, 2009 at 4:02 AMNo #8 on the track. Sad. Good work Teresa, was that 1% worth it? I gave you 2 yrs, I guess I underestimated your ability to run the business into the ground... I won't argue whether Jr is a mediocre, good, bad or what ever kind of driver. One thing he can do is bring on the sponsors!!! And, we will never know what would have happened if Jr was still there, one can only speculate. IMHO it would have lasted heck of a lot longer than a year. Good luck Teresa, hope someone throws you a life saver soon. Truex, hope you are shopping.
Carol Haines said:
Apr 9, 2009 at 5:06 AMHoward, if what you say about Sr never intending the company to be for his kids is true,then the great Dale Sr was a liar. I have video tapes where he says DEI was built for his children.If Teresa lost interest in the company and chose to let it fall instead letting the kids run it, that proves she really is a wicked witch. I can go either way on this, but if I was a fan of either SR or Teresa, I'd be a little upset by the picture you painted of them. As for sponsorship, there's a big difference between Nationwide and Cup. I don't see a lot of empty space on Jrs cup car.
john arturi said:
Apr 9, 2009 at 10:31 AMDEI was the idea of Dale Sr and Teresa. DEI was suppose to turn into a top notch race team for when Dale Sr retired from RCR. It was never meant to be run by anyone else but Dale Sr and Teresa. Yes the kids and grandchildren were to get money off the profits of DEI, which they all do, but that is all. Aric is not that great of a driver and sponsorship would have been hard to get for a driver out of the top 35.
Bruce Lassiter said:
Apr 9, 2009 at 11:53 AM#24 John, you are so wrong. DEI was the idea of Dale Sr., WHEN he was married to Teresa; and wrong Howard, #21.... Budweiser would have been on the side of the car for as long as Dale Jr. was the driver. You and everyone else knows that too. Dale Jr. basically had a "blank check" from the Budweiser folks - probably up until retirement, if he had wanted it. You can thank Teresa for screwing all that up. (But there is of course no need in driving that dead horse into the ground, is it?) What's done is done, and like it or not, Dale Jr. WAS the "franchise" at D.E.I. while driving the #8 car. DEI, Teresa and Max Seigle all got what they deserved and had coming to them. Like it or not, if Dale Jr. could have come to an agreement with them and DEI, things would have been abundantly different! R.I.P. Dale Sr.!
Carol Haines said:
Apr 9, 2009 at 12:08 PMJohn, if you are right then the great Dale Sr lied. He said many times that the company was for his kids. As I said before it doesn't make a difference to me if he lied, I wasn't a fan of his.Although, I did respect him as a person. It might make a difference to his fans.As for Aric, he hasn't had chance to prove if he is or isn't any good.
Karen said:
Apr 9, 2009 at 2:39 PMThat's a bummer, he is my favorite rookie! I saw him in Mark Martin's car with the high dollar team last year and man can that kid race! I really hope they can find his team sponsorship soon, it would be a huge loss for the sport to lost such a talanted and passionate driver.
Michael Daly said:
Apr 9, 2009 at 5:56 PMJoshua Ranier, Junior is not the sponsor magnet you think he is. The sport's insane spending dictated that some cars like the #8, regardless of whether Junior drove it, would not get backing. It's not having a spending cap that's really at fault here.
Bernie said:
Apr 9, 2009 at 10:04 PMEven if Jr. was still driving the 8, Budweiser still would have pulled the sponsorship. They are pulling out of everything. New ownership and reorganization. Some of you people need to diversify and listen and watch other motorsports. You won't see Budweiser sponsorship for a while.