News just announced today!







DEI and Ganassi Racing will merge teams in 2009
By Staff and wire reports
November 12, 2008
06:06 PM EST[/align][/align]
MIAMI Teresa Earnhardt and Chip Ganassi will combine their slumping race teams next season, an effort to stabilize their organizations in a tough economic time.
The combined team will be called Earnhardt Ganassi Racing. Martin Truex Jr. and Juan Pablo Montoya will drive the Nos. 1 and 42 and Aric Almirola will be behind the wheel of the No. 8. The driver of the No. 41 has not been named.
Both organizations have struggled to secure sponsorship this season, forcing the teams to pool resources.
"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," Chip Ganassi said in a statement released by the team. "This is a win-win for both organizations as well as all of our partners."
Truex and Almirola will come from Dale Earnhardt Inc.; only Truex's car has full sponsorship for next season.
Montoya has half a season of sponsorship, and Ganassi's flagship No. 41 car has full sponsorship.
DEI fields Chevrolets, and Ganassi has a Dodge contract. Details of a manufacturer switch still are being worked out as the team is expected to use General Motors.
"Having a partner like Chip, who is heavily involved on the competition side of the business, is an ideal situation for DEI," 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."
DEI is losing the Menard's sponsorship on its No. 15 Chevrolet. Driver Paul Menard is leaving the organization to drive a third car for Yates Racing in 2009.
Ganassi shuttled the No. 40 Dodge of Dario Franchitti earlier this year, and longtime driver Reed Sorenson is leaving the No. 41 to drive for Gillett Evernham Racing next year.
The teams' drivers have combined for 210 starts this year and have zero wins, 11 top-five finishes and 28 top-10s.
DEI has only three wins in the past four seasons, while Ganassi drivers have four wins since 2002.[/align]










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Find this article at:
http://www.nascar.com/2008/news/head...ger/index.html




Any thoughts? Do you think this is good or bad?
Was the loss of Dale Jr, Mark Martin, and Paul Menard (driver and a sponsor) too much for DEI in such a short time?
Or do you think Teresa Earnhardt is getting what she deserves?
Can you picture DEI switching to Mopars? (unlikely)
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Earnhardt Ganassi Racing, NO wonder its raining outside today. Dale must be crying in the heavens above us how Teresa messed up his company. After Jr left DEI, that company has done nothing right except score Mark Martin for a short term and even that they couldn't hold on too as hes driving for Hendricks full time next year. This merge is the only way DEI will servive in Nascar, it would be a huge shame however if they leave GM which I personally don't think it would ever happen as the relationship the Earnhardts have with them but if that were to ever happen then I can truly say Teresa extremely ****ed up that whole organization.

 

I can't see them leaving GM either. They still have the Dale Earnhardt Chevrolet dealership in Newton, North Carolina. It would be insane to cut ties with GM and potentially lose their dealership. But that's just my opinion.