Dale Earnhardt Inc. and Chip Ganassi Racing to merge operations for 2009
MIAMI – Chip Ganassi Racing and Dale Earnhardt Inc. will merge operations beginning with the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup season, the teams announced in a news release Wednesday. Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates will field the NASCAR-maximum four Sprint cup cars in 2009, thus cutting out two full-time cars that DEI operated in 2008.
The Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing driver lineup will be Martin Truex Jr. in the No. 1 and Aric Almirola in the No. 8 from DEI, Juan Pablo Montoya in the No. 42 from Ganassi and a driver still to be determined for the No. 41.
Truex has previously announced sponsorship from Bass Pro Shops while Montoya has a half-season sponsorship from Wrigley’s. Ganassi executives have been adamant that Montoya would not go to the No. 41 Target-sponsored car, and it is expected that Target will go with Almirola or the driver the team still needs to hire.
“Having a partner like Chip who is heavily involved on the competition side of the business is an ideal situation for DEI,” DEI owner Teresa Earnhardt said. “He has a long history of managing championship teams in the IndyCar and Rolex Grand-Am Series, and I share his passion and goals of winning races and ultimately championships in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.
“I think this is a case where we are stronger together than we are apart.”
The merger caps a season in which neither organization could muster a win and both have dealt with dire sponsorship situations.
“In this ultra-competitive era of NASCAR, it is necessary to build and sustain the strongest team possible and our combining with the people and equipment at Dale Earnhardt Inc. will help create a strong four-car program for years to come,” said Chip Ganassi Racing owner Chip Ganassi. “This is a win-win for both organizations as well as all of our partners.”
DEI had operated four teams this year, but Truex was the only full-time driver signed to return. Almirola and Mark Martin had shared the No. 8 car, and Almirola was signed for 2009 while Martin left for Hendrick Motorsports and sponsor U.S. Army left for Ryan Newman at Stewart-Haas Racing. DEI driver Paul Menard is taking his family home improvement store sponsorship with him to Yates Racing. The status of current DEI driver Regan Smith, who had sponsor Principal for some races this year, is unknown.
Chip Ganassi Racing started the season fielding three teams but folded the team of driver Dario Franchitti midway through the year after sponsorship didn’t materialize. Montoya and Reed Sorenson have driven the full season, with Sorenson leaving the Target team to go to Gillett Evernham Motorsports, and Montoya’s half-season sponsor, Texaco/Havoline, having announced it was leaving the sport after 2008.
The news release did not mention a manufacturer. DEI currently fields Chevrolets with engines from Earnhardt-Childress Racing Technologies. Ganassi has its own engine department for his Dodge program. Although a manufacturer wasn’t announced, Chevy’s NASCAR program manager Pat Suhy said last Friday that none of his teams could have a relationship with a non-Chevrolet organization.
The merger pairs two well-known owners in the sport.
DEI was founded by the late seven-time Cup champion Dale Earnhardt and began full-time Cup racing in 1998. It has been operated by Earnhardt’s widow, Teresa Earnhardt, since Dale Earnhardt’s death in the 2001 Daytona 500. The organization has 24 victories but only three in the last four years.
Ganassi, who already had enjoyed success in open-wheel racing, purchased majority ownership in SABCO Racing from Felix Sabates during the 2001 season. Under Ganassi’s leadership, the organization has only one win in the last six years.
There was no indication in the news release of who would run the team. Both organizations already have presidents – Max Siegel at DEI and Steve Lauletta at Ganassi. Ironically, Ganassi’s competition director, Steve Hmiel, was released from DEI and then landed at Ganassi last year.
