Earnhardt Ganassi Racing's Aric Almirola won't run full season without full funding

By Bob Pockrass - Associate Editor
Friday, February 13, 2009
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Earnhardt Ganassi Racing's Aric Almirola may not run the full NASCAR Sprint Cup season.

Jerry Markland
Getty Images for NASCAR

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Aric Almirola will not run the full 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup season unless funding is secured, Earnhardt Ganassi Racing co-owner Chip Ganassi said Friday afternoon.

Ganassi would not specify how many races Almirola, who has sponsorship from Guitar Hero for a select number of events, would run, but he said he definitely will run the first five.
 
Last year, Ganassi shut down his underfunded No. 40 car driven by Dario Franchitti.
 
“I’d like to sit here and tell you we’re close,” Ganassi said. “But the fact of the matter is we’re not. We’re not unlike ... a situation we were in a year ago, but we’re going to give it our best shot. We need more funding to run Aric.”
 
The 24-year-old Almirola has 18 career starts over the last two seasons and hopes to run the entire 2009 schedule.
 

Comments

3 responses to "Earnhardt Ganassi Racing's Aric Almirola won't run full season without full funding". Post a Comment.
  1. 1
    Andrew Briscoe said:
    Feb 13, 2009 at 4:00 PM

    I would think that Almirola would complain about this statement to Chip. Last year Regan Smith did not have much funding and DEI ran the full schedule with him, and now that Aric's finally gotten the opportunity to run full time they're going to just sideline his team whenever they don't have a sponsor? I know running a team is expensive, but I also believe in giving people a chance when they've earned it- and I think it's now Aric's chance, considering how he was reportedly replaced by Bobby Labonte in the #8 car for about a week, right before Labonte signed with the #96 team.

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  2. 2
    Kendall King said:
    Feb 13, 2009 at 4:18 PM

    That is good ol Chip for you take away a chnace for a up coming young driver to keep Juan going. Aric is a much more class of a driver and deserves the chance. I agree with you Andrew DEI did stick with Regan and he brought home them the rookie of the year trophy. Now if T.E. was any way part owner of this team she should step in and make it happen for Aric. I perdict Aric will finish ahead of Juan in the 500 if Jaun even finishes without wrecking.

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  3. 3
    Werner Boehmert said:
    Feb 14, 2009 at 2:32 PM

    come on Felix...kickin a few bucks...

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Feb 9, 2010 at 8:18 AM
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