DEI & Ganassi merger (renamed thread)

[Cuckoo]

Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates and Dale Earnhardt Inc. have entered discussions that could lead to a merger between the two organizations, foxsports.com reported Tuesday.
Such a union would bring together the Nos. 41 and 42 cars of Ganassi and the Nos. 1 and No. 8 cars of DEI, according to the report.
Juan Montoya drives the No. 42 car, but Ganassi has not named a driver for the No. 41 car. Martin Truex Jr. is the driver of the No. 1 car, and Aric Almirola drives the No. 8, which has not named a sponsor for next year.
One of Montoya's current sponsors, Texaco Havoline, will not return to the car next year, but Ganassi has a partial sponsorship locked in with Wrigley's for the No. 42.
That the two organizations are aligned with different manufacturers is a complication. DEI runs Chevrolets and maintains an engine alliance -- Earnhardt-Childress Racing Technologies -- with Richard Childress Racing, which also is in the Chevy camp.
Ganassi has a contract with Dodge that runs through 2010. According to the report, the expectation would be for the newly formed team to move to Chevrolet, if details can be worked out with both manufacturers. General Motors, which produces the Chevrolet brand, and Dodge majority owner Cerberus Capital also have explored the possibility of a merger between the automakers.
Thanks to nascar.com

[DanicaFan]

DEI is in talks with a couple teams. I know Petty Enterprises was another big rumored merger.

[Knowlesy]

Ganassi, on the other hand, is in talks with everyone it seems!

This would be cool. Although I'm not sure how effective it could be.

[ThePenguin]

With the current state of the economy, everyone is talking about merging.

[Matt]

I like the idea of Chevrolet.

[muggle not]

DEI is about to go kaput. Theresa has taken a good organization and run it into the ground. When Bass Pro leaves there won't be any sponsors left, will there? Seems like Truex will be driving for Gibbs.

[muggle not]

I was wrong. The DEI / Ganassi merger has been confirmed........and......they will be using Chevys. Maybe it will help JPM in a Chevy. JPM showed a lot of potential this year and should be a candidate for the chase next year.

[StuiE]

Good news, should help both of the ailing organisations.

I hope AJ goes to the 41 car, probably the best available ride out there for him. If not AJ then Regan Smith.

[FIRE]

I hope this will give JPM a better car next year.

Lately AJ is doing very well (15th best driver).

So Dodge drops to 3 teams GEM, Penske and Petty (+ Gordon). But there are still rumours GEM will switch to Toyota.

[Born Racer]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/72094

[Matt]

Why not Carpentier in the 41?

[muggle not]

Originally Posted by Matt

Why not Carpentier in the 41?

Why not Regan Smith, he has earned a ride. I wonder if he will be the only rookie of the year that doesn't have a ride the following year.

[Matt]

TBH, I forgot about him.

[slick42]

Labonte seems most likely for the 41 aslong as Target give him the ok.

Just to confim what we alreay knew

[FONT=Arial][SIZE=-1]EGR will run Chevy's; all move to Ganassi's shop: Director of Dodge Motorsports Mike Accavitti told Sirius NASCAR Radio's Sirius Speedway Tuesday that Chip Ganassi Racing will race Chevrolets as part of its recent merger with Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Accavitti's announcement was the first public admission of an anticipated manufacturer change by the Ganassi team. (Sirius NASCAR Radio's Sirius Speedway)
AND The new Earnhardt Ganassi Racing team will run Chevrolets and work out of the Chip Ganassi Racing shop, a team spokesman confirmed. The team still has not named a driver nor a crew chief for the #41 car nor has it named a crew chief for the #8 car driven by Aric Almirola. It also still needs sponsorship for Almirola and a half-season sponsorship for #42-Juan Pablo Montoya. The new organization resulted from a merger of Dale Earnhardt Inc. and Chip Ganassi Racing, which was announced in mid-November. Neither the shop location nor the engine package is a surprise. The Ganassi team has been a Dodge organization since 2001, the first full season after Chip Ganassi bought a majority interest in Sabco Racing from Felix Sabates. Dodge had a contract with Ganassi at least through 2009, but Dodge officials had indicated that they would let Ganassi out of its commitment if it was in the best interest of the team.(SceneDaily)(12-16-2008)

[gomick]

will 43 cars be on the grid

[neiltb]

looks like the car count will be down around there, if it is the bottom teams will be able to save a few $ much to the detriment of the racing. NASCAR will probably reduce the field to keep people trying

[Clive Brown]

Will the 43 car be on the grid ?

[slick42]

the 43 car will, it's too famous not to be

[slick42]

Originally Posted by slick42

Labonte seems most likely for the 41 aslong as Target give him the ok.

Bobby Labonte will drive the #41 Target Chevrolet for Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing in 2009, joining Martin Truex, Jr., Juan Pablo Montoya and Aric Almirola as part of a newly merged, four-car team. Labonte has not commented since announcing his split from Petty Enterprises last week, and the new Earnhardt-Ganassi operation remains in a virtual media lockdown. However, multiple sources close to the situation tell Sirius Speedway that a deal to put Labonte in the #41 is signed, sealed and delivered, after receiving the approval of sponsor Target. Work has already begun on the necessary promotional infrastructure -- photo shoots, marketing campaigns, ancillary programs, etc. -- for the coming season

[Cuckoo]

This was on Jayski today : UPDATE: Bobby Labonte in the #8, Juan Pablo Montoya in the #41, Martin Truex Jr. in the #1 and Aric Almirola in a part-time role. That is the scenario officials at Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing are discussing, sources close to the situation told ESPN.com. Almirola was slated to drive the #8 vacated by Mark Martin this season, but the company was having trouble finding sponsorship for the untested driver. Labonte ... according to sources, has drawn interest from several sponsors. Montoya drove the #42 during his first two years with Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates. But with that car only half sponsored by Wrigley's and the #41 fully funded by Target, officials are looking to make the switch for what had become the top driver at Ganassi. Almirola would drive the fourth car in next month's opener at Daytona and a select number of other races unless officials find a way to fully sponsor that car for the season.
Man this is the silly season

[Matt]

Booo, I hope he stays with the #42.

[Knowlesy]

Better to be in the 41, if that is fully funded (which it is).

Also, Montoya back with the Target livery.

The 42 loses it's allure without the Texaco livery in any case. That was one snazzy paintjob.

[Matt]

Never thought about that, him coming back to Target. Any ideas on maybe a bit of yellow showing up on the car? :P

[Clive Brown]

And the point of having Bobby Labonte in a seat is .... ? Not half the driver The Iceman was , got into a good seat largely because of his surname , lucked into a Championship . A bit like Junior and Michael Waltrip in fact , except for the Championship thing .

EGR doesn't need him ; they've already got one decent journeyman ( Truex ) in the squad , and moreover , one whose career is still on the up slope , and who has a fully-sponsored ride . Stick with him , the potential Chase winner ( Montoya ) , and the promising (and Hispanic ) young hotshoe . Run Labonte in a fourth car as and when he can raise the necessary sponsorship .

[slick42]

Labonte has more experience than Almirola, Truex and Juan put together, i think thats a major advantage that he has over the other free agents