Ganassi team confident it can replace sponsor Texaco

By Bob Pockrass - Associate Editor

Monday, August 25, 2008

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Chip Ganassi Racing President Steve Lauletta is confident that the team can find sponsorship to fill the 18-race void for Juan Pablo Montoya next season.

Texaco/Havoline parent company Chevron announced last week that it was leaving the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, though Wrigley’s already is signed for 18 of Montoya's races next year, Lauletta said.

The team had been talking to potential sponsors for its third Cup team and Dario Franchitti before shutting it down this season and had an idea that Texaco might either leave the sport or go to another team.

“Now that they have decided to get out of the sport, it gives us the ability to really be aggressive with the companies we’ve been talking to and with new companies that will see that Juan is available for half the season to really zero in on that,” Lauletta said. “I feel real confident we’ll have something put together pretty quick."

Lauletta said that the team can focus on selling those 18 races for Montoya because its other sponsorships – the No. 41 Cup team (Target), the No. 40 Nationwide team (Fastenal), the two Indy Racing League teams (Target) and one Grand-Am team (Telmex) – are all solid for next season.

“We run six cars as a company, … and for 2009 right now, five-and-a-half of those six cars are locked in with sponsorship,” Lauletta said. “There are a few teams that would trade positions with us when you’re looking at that, especially with half of our car that we need to fill is our top driver personality-wise, recognition-wise, performance-wise on the NASCAR side.

“I feel pretty good about where we are right now for 2009, and it’s just a matter of now that Chevron has made their decision, being aggressive and wrapping up that other half with Montoya.”

Mentioned Drivers:
Juan Pablo Montoya

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2 responses to "Ganassi team confident it can replace sponsor Texaco"

1
John Lockhart said:
Aug 25, 2008 at 5:13 PM
Hate to see Chevron bail out like that.I guess they have made so much money from these marked up gas prices,that they don't need NASCAR anymore.True fans won't use thier products anymore,I know I'm not going to.
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2
Jay said:
Aug 25, 2008 at 7:52 PM
Funny thing is though is that Sabates said they weren't paying them much anyway. Makes you wonder. Ganassi needs to worry about keeping its drivers, not only sponsors. Getting better equipment would be a good start to attracting both
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