Earnhardt Ganassi Racing expects to keep Bass Pro Shops regardless of Martin Truex Jr. decision

By Bob Pockrass - Associate Editor
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Bass Pro Shops is the primary sponsor for the No. 1 Earnhardt Ganassi Racing Chevrolet driven by Martin Truex Jr. (LaDon George / NASCAR Scene)

Bass Pro Shops is the primary sponsor for the No. 1 Earnhardt Ganassi Racing Chevrolet driven by Martin Truex Jr.

LaDon George
NASCAR Scene

LOUDON, N.H. – Earnhardt Ganassi Racing President Steve Lauletta said no matter what happens with Martin Truex Jr., he expects Bass Pro Shops will remain with the organization for 2010.

Truex, who drives for EGR, is expected to be announced as the 2010 full-time replacement for Michael Waltrip at Michael Waltrip Racing on July 7.

“I heard about that [announcement] – I have no idea [its content],” Lauletta said in the New Hampshire Motor Speedway garage. “We have not re-signed Martin for 2010.”

Lauletta was fairly mum on whether the team would put current driver Aric Almirola (who started the year driving for EGR in Sprint Cup and has since been driving select Nationwide and Truck races for other teams) in the No. 1 car or someone else.

“We’re not going to talk about what we’re doing and what our options are,” Lauletta said. “We’ll keep that all internal.”

He said those discussions would include Bass Pro Shops.

“If something happened where we didn’t re-sign Martin, then we would be having dialogue with Bass Pro on who takes the seat,” he said. “When, if that time comes, we’ll be doing that as quick as we have to.”

As far as his manufacturer situation, Lauletta said EGR is in a similar situation as the rest of the Chevrolet organizations as it has been asked to cut back.

“Readjusting our budget based on the situation they’re in – we’re doing that,” he said. “We’re still real happy where we are with Chevy and with [Earnhardt Childress Racing Technologies] and we’re going to keep working with them the best we can. … Everything else is status quo.

“We haven’t gotten into having conversations about 2010 yet, so as of right now, we’ve got to sit down and talk to them and look at our options and determine what is the best course of action. Where we started the season and the support we’ve received from them, we hope to continue the dialogue.”
 

Mentioned Drivers: Martin Truex Jr.

Comments

11 responses to " Earnhardt Ganassi Racing expects to keep Bass Pro Shops regardless of Martin Truex Jr. decision". Post a Comment.
  1. 1
    Anonymous said:
    Jun 28, 2009 at 1:21 PM

    Hearing NASCAR Nationwide driver Donnie Neuenberger is on the shortlist for the #1 Bass Pro Shops/ Tracker Boats ride. Having worked for EGR's Front Row Motorsports in the past, and driving for EGR/FRM's Jimmy Means in the Nationwide Series, he is in the Top 3 as of Sunday.

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  2. 2
    Anonymous said:
    Jun 28, 2009 at 1:37 PM

    haha good one

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  3. 3
    bmontecarlo99 said:
    Jun 28, 2009 at 2:10 PM

    As totally off the wall as it sounds don't forget the real possibility of seeing Danica Patrick in the #1 next year. Ganassi has been rumored to be really trying to get her if not for Cup for the his Indy team for a 3rd car. One thing about it she wouldn't have problems getting sponsors and with a partial team owner still being the widow Earnhardt and Bass Pro maybe seeing a lift in it's female client base strangers things have occurred. Not saying it would be a successful move but a bad economic climate can breed strange combinations.

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  4. 4
    Phoenix987 said:
    Jun 28, 2009 at 4:42 PM

    BPS will bolt as soon as they can from EGR. I'd be willing to bet that if Montoya could get a ride from somewhere else that's worth going to he'd bolt as well. EGR's going to have to find another team to help stay afloat, no one will want to sponsor the team that can't do anything on the track.

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  5. 5
    amalycke said:
    Jun 28, 2009 at 5:17 PM

    To #1, I also heard that Neuenberger is deep into contention because he's got a huge fanbase in the DC/ Baltimore area and is very fan friendly.

    The other two drivers being considered are Danica Patrick and James Buescher out of Plano, TX.

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  6. 6
    motorsportsphotography said:
    Jun 28, 2009 at 8:06 PM

    31, You are out of you mind. Nobody is looking at Donnie. He is 50 years old and he isn't even healthy enough to run every week. And Danica is not coming to NASCAR.

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  7. 7
    Anonymous said:
    Jun 28, 2009 at 11:22 PM

    it would be a good move for martin. just look at the improvement at mwr the last 3 yrs.

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  8. 8
    4wide said:
    Jun 29, 2009 at 2:57 PM

    Teresa will field an INDY car with Mayfield as the driver with a big Bass on the side of it.

    Sells more tickets to the DEI Museum

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  9. 9
    Bob Sodetz said:
    Jun 29, 2009 at 3:51 PM

    I agree with Phoenizx987 - BPS should get away from EGR ASAP! BPS and Martin should be over at Stewart-Haas looking at the third team. The fit is perfect for all involved. Truex, Stewart and Newman are all big outdoorsman, SHR is running great and getting tons of air time, they're running Chevys and the cross-promotions are endless!

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  10. 10
    ctjeepinguy said:
    Jun 29, 2009 at 6:07 PM

    What if Teresa spent all her time in front of the camera and talking up her company? What if Teresa spent time at every race meeting fans? What if Teresa acted like a buisness woman doing commercials for sponsors? What if Dale Sr and Jr were still with DEI? Go to Vagas to see Chip & Dales and I don't mean the track! This company cant last much longer.

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  11. 11
    grandmasharon0 said:
    Jun 30, 2009 at 11:13 AM

    Bob Sodetz you are so on the money. I have been saying the same thing from the start that Truex and Bass Pro Shops are the perfect fit for SHR. And I believe Stewart still has a contract with them for his other race teams so you would think that would give him an advantage. I know Tony and Martin are good friends.
    I could easily see that threesome working well.

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2009 Sprint Cup Race for the Chase Standings

Driver Standings after the Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500

1 Jimmie Johnson 6492
2 Mark Martin -108
3 Jeff Gordon -169
4 Kurt Busch -211
5 Tony Stewart -285
6 Juan Pablo Montoya -289
7 Greg Biffle -321
8 Denny Hamlin -352
9 Ryan Newman -411
10 Kasey Kahne -476
11 Carl Edwards -520
12 Brian Vickers -666

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