Sorenson to join Gillett Evernham Motorsports in 2009

Reed Sorenson says he's not sure if he'll drive Gillett Evernham Motorsports' existing third car or a new fourth car when he joins the organization's NASCAR Sprint Cup operation in 2009, but he believes that it's an outfit that can turn him into a Cup race winner. Sorenson, who has driven for Chip Ganassi Racing since debuting full time in the Cup series in 2006, was introduced Tuesday as Gillett Evernham's new driver.

The 22-year-old driver says he decided early in the contract negotiation process that if he opted to leave Ganassi, Gillett Evernham was the team he'd like to race with. He also says a host of factors played into his decision, but high on that list were his current team's struggles this season and the Gillett Evernham group's improved performance.
        

"Hopefully, this will be a good move, and I think the team fits me well here, and I just see where this would be a good move for me on down the road and short-term as well," he said Tuesday, shortly after the move was officially announced.
        
Sorenson spoke highly of his Ganassi team, but as he assessed the organization, he sees challenges in keeping up with the competition. Teammate Juan Pablo Montoya, who was expected to be an improved contender this season, is 21st in the series standings, while Sorenson is 31st. Dario Franchitti's Ganassi team was shut down because of a lack of sponsorship, and one of Montoya's primary sponsors, Texaco, has announced it will not return next season.
        
"There's a lot of hard work going on over there, and that's still continuing, going on to this weekend at California," Sorenson said of the Ganassi group. "... As far as how hard everyone is working, there's no lack of that, whether as far as testing and everything like that. Everybody at the shop is still working hard. It's just that it's obviously a competitive sport, and it's not easy to be up front and winning. It's not a lack of effort. I don't see where there's any problems now as far as everything they have going on as far as the rest of this year and next year."
      
Sorenson said he told his team about his decision Monday but says that he let team owner Chip Ganassi know a couple of weeks ago that he would be leaving. At that point, he said his exact plans were a little unclear. He then informed Ganassi team co-owner Felix Sabates over the weekend. Sabates later referred to Sorenson as a driver who was as "good as he's ever going to be."
        
Sorenson chuckled when asked about that statement Tuesday.
        
"I hope not," he said. "I plan on winning some races and going for championships here sooner rather than later. I respect Felix a lot. He's been a great guy to me. He and Chip have been two great mentors for me. I enjoyed working for them and working with them, and I definitely don't plan on not winning races.
   
"I plan on winning races. I plan on being competitive. I plan on getting the shot to run in the top 12 and things like that, so hopefully, I can prove that in the future."
        
Still, some of the plans are murky. While Sorenson is definitely joining the team, he says he's not certain if he'll replace Patrick Carpentier in the No. 10 or be with a new fourth team. Right now, that seems to be a decision that has not been made and that is dependent on sponsorship.
        
"I know they're looking for sponsorship for him right now; that's really all I can say about that," Sorenson said. "I think that's just
kind of something we'll have to wait and see over the next few months to get a definite answer on a lot of that stuff. There's some stuff going on, a lot of hard work .... We made that announcement today, and that's what we do know for sure is that's where I'll be driving next year, and the rest of it should fall in place fairly soon and be able to let everybody know."
        
Sorenson has a career-best finish of 22nd in the standings. He has three career wins in what is now the Nationwide Series and five top-five finishes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. He has won championships in Legends and Quarter Midget racing, visited victory lane in ARCA and starred in the American Speed Association, winning the rookie-of-the-year award in 2003 at age 17. 
        
He thinks he can improve on those numbers next season. First, though, he'll have to get into the races. Whichever team he is with will
most likely be outside the top 35 in owner points and thus not guaranteed a starting spot in the season's opening races. Carpentier is currently 39th in those standings, and a new team would not have any points.
        
"That's part of it," he said. "Even with [Richard] Childress, he's starting his fourth team as well. When you do things like that, eventually you have to go through that process. It's obviously not a fun process to go through, that's for sure, having that extra pressure on you, but at the same time, long-term-wise, I feel like this is where I want to be, and long-term-wise I see where we can be up front and get in the top whatever we can in points and not have to worry about that in the future."
        
Sorenson says that watching the improved performance of Gillett Evernham's Kasey Kahne, who is battling for a spot in the Chase For The NASCAR Sprint Cup, and Elliott Sadler, who is 20th in the standings, showed him the potential of this team. Now, Sorenson wants his own shot at winning races. He thinks this is where he can have just that.  Sorenson admits that the last three seasons have not helped his confidence, but he's still young enough and new enough to the sport that he's not worried about quickly overcoming that.
        
What's important to him is that he has found a place where he feels that he belongs.
        
"I think they believe in me as a driver, and that means a lot and I believe in them as a team, so I think that speeded up the process
a little bit," he said.
        
The Gillett Evernham group clearly believes in the young driver and spoke highly of him in making the announcement. Sorenson said he has no plans to leave the No. 41 Ganassi team early, but he and his new organization appear excited to begin working together when they can.
        
"Reed is a highly talented driver with a wealth of experience and accomplishments for a 22-year-old," said Mark McArdle, GEM's vice
president and managing director of competition. "We believe he has a great future ahead of him here at Gillett Evernham Motorsports. He will be a great fit with our drivers, sponsors and employees."