Earnhardt Ganassi shuts down Nationwide Series team
The newly merged Earnhardt Ganassi Racing team has shut down its NASCAR Nationwide Series operation, driver Bryan Clauson and former crew chief Brad Parrott confirmed Wednesday.
Parrott said seven crew members were laid off from the team, which originally planned to run the full Nationwide schedule next year with Clauson. Four or five other crewmen will be absorbed by the Sprint Cup operation, Clauson said.
The laid-off crew members were told Monday, Parrott said, and Earnhardt Ganassi is trying to sell its inventory of Nationwide Dodges.
Clauson remains under contract with the team but said Wednesday his plans for 2009 are unknown. The 19-year-old finished second in the Raybestos Rookie of the Year standings in the Nationwide Series this season.
A spokesman for Earnhardt Ganassi said the team would have no comment at this time.
Parrott said sponsor Fastenal left Earnhardt Ganassi and is searching for another team. Parrott also hopes to bring a core group of crewmen with him to another team, if sponsorship can be found.
“I’ve got my name out there already, trying to beat down as many doors as I can because I know there’s a lot of people needing jobs,” Parrott said. “I’ve got a group of guys that have been together for three years. We can go as separate people, or we can go as a team.”
Parrott has talked to two owners who want to bring him and his crewmen together, pending sponsorship.
“They said, ‘Brad, you’re at the top of our list if we can get this deal done,’” Parrott said. “They’re very close on the deals, and that’s them telling me I’m at the top of their list.”
A source said the Fastenal sponsorship is likely moving to another NASCAR team, precipitating the shutdown of Earnhardt Ganassi’s Nationwide operation.
Another source said part of Fastenal's sponsorship included Dodge money, but since Dodge won't be with the team next year - Earnhardt Ganassi is rumored to be switching to Chevrolet - the team would not have been able to make the manufacturer switch and run a partial season with the amount of money Fastenal was now offering.
Chip Ganassi Racing merged with Dale Earnhardt Inc. in mid-November, and the Nationwide team’s status was up in the air. Fastenal had moved to Ganassi's Nationwide team for 2008.
Parrott said he has contacted Gillett Evernham Motorsports about the crew chief opening for Elliott Sadler’s Sprint Cup team but has not talked directly about that job.
“With 23 years of racing experience – and I just had my first year without going to victory lane in NASCAR since 1992 – the fire still burns,” Parrott said. “I can still win races as a crew chief, as a car chief or as a manager or as whatever needs to be done.
“I’ve been in this long enough to understand the sport. I know you’ve got to have good managers, good owners and good people. Without that, you’re not going to be successful.”
The No. 40 Ganassi team finished 21st in the Nationwide owners standings with a host of drivers this season.
