Dale Earnhardt, Inc. and Ginn Racing are working on a merger agreement that, if finalized, would meld the two NASCAR organizations into a single company, multiple sources close to negotiations told ESPN.com on Monday. The deal is not done, but a decision will be made soon. Both organizations hope, sources said, to firm up outstanding details and announce a partnership immediately. This deal is an elaborate proposition that entails several obstacles, including how best to reduce from six Nextel Cup teams to the maximum four. The obvious answer, sources said, would be to eliminate Ginn's financially-strapped Nos. 13 and 14 teams.
I really don't know what to think about this report. I thought the merger was probably dead. Apparently something has sparked it again since the sources ESPN is using spoke today about the matter. Is there a way to sort out the issues?
Well to start with Sterling Marlin and Joe Nemechek can be let go at the end of the year because their contracts expire. ESPN is also reporting that Aric Almirola has been tabbed to share the 01 ride with Mark Martin next year. Therefore, Martin and Almirola could share the 01 Army car for DEI next year. That leaves Regan Smith who has been promised the 14 by Ginn. Put him in the 8 instead and "Bob's Your Uncle" you've got it. WOW!
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Ginn Racing is not broke. Ginn Racing will be racing all three Cup teams at Chicago Speedway next weekend. Ginn Racing is not selling off the Nos. 13 or 14 for points to other teams. However, Ginn Racing did let go of seven people earlier in the week, is expected to discontinue a full-time effort in the Busch Series after Daytona and is currently revisiting preseason talks of a merger with Dale Earnhardt Inc.Bottom line: Ginn expanded too quickly and it was time to cut the fat. At least Ginn could afford to do that.
Ginn GM Jay Frye has been forthcoming with the media. When the season started he expected to have three fully-funded race teams. That didn't happen. Panasonic didn't come through. Ginn Resorts was the sponsor of record on both the Nos. 13 and 14.Even without outside funding, Sterling Marlin and crew chief Slugger Labbe accomplished what no other team outside the top 35 in 2006 owner points could do — qualify for the first five races. Still, Frye humbly admits he'd be better off with two strong teams rather than three diluted squads.
A Ginn-DEI marriage provides positives for both organizations. Ginn can benefit from DEI sponsor and marketing relations. DEI acquires the long-needed space it's desired along with owner points for Paul Menard from the No. 13. With the newly formed DEI/RCR engine development program, there would be eight cars to pull data from instead of six. RCR is currently putting the pieces together for a fourth team as well. Part of Hendrick Motorsports success stems from the amount of feedback it receives from providing engines for nine teams. DEI/RCR hopes to make similar gains. At the least, DEI could pick up one team from Ginn and continue a satellite partnership in similar fashion to Hendrick and Haas.
NASCAR's top-35 rule protects its strongest organizations. That hasn't been a problem for Ginn — yet. The Car of Tomorrow, that was billed as the great equalizer, has widened the gap between the three tiers of Nextel Cup. Perhaps this was the simple solution to weed out the weaker teams if NASCAR moves to franchising in 2009.
Denver-based Furniture Row Racing, which rents space from Ginn as an East Coast satellite, has been rumored to be running Marlin on a limited schedule next season but would like to use the affable Kenny Wallace to garner new sponsorship for the 78 and move Furniture Row to a second team. Ginn has denied Marlin's owner points would be part of that package.
However, there was pre-season talk of a DEI/Ginn merger, and that story has heated up again. Keep in mind the "four" factor. If NASCAR contracts to 44 franchised teams and 11 owners - DEI/Ginn - on the radar screen. Could be expedited quicker by Ginn merger.
Lee sounds a little confused. She says Ginn is not selling off numbers for owner points. Then she says in a merger with DEI, that company would acquire the owner points from the 13 from Ginn for the 15.
Oh well, it wouldn't be the first time the Sporting News/Fox writer got it wrong. She better hope I don't win the NGS contest. I can write about NASCAR better than her. And that would have to suck for her. 'Cause as all of y'all know, I ain't worth a damn.
Furniture Row Racing has inquired about Sterling Marlin's services, with the idea of putting him in a second entry to bolster the performance of the team, which currently fields the No. 78 Chevrolet driven by Kenny Wallace.
"They've mentioned something about it" Marlin said. "I said, 'Well, if I don't run [a more permanent program] next year, I might run 15-18 races for you just to get more track time, more test time.'"
I believe Sterling screwed the pooch when he let it be publicly known that he was thinking about running a part time schedule next year. He did so without having any plans in place. I don't know, maybe he went to Bobby Ginn with it first and then let it be public knowledge to put some feelers out. But Ginn doesn't appear to be holding his breath.
Joe Nemechek and Sterling Marlin's contracts are both up at the end of this season. Jay Frye acknowledged Marlin wanted to go to a partial schedule next season, but said he would not be in the 01 car. Frye said plans included Regan Smith in one full-time Nextel Cup car, either the No. 13 or No. 14. He said Mark Martin's exact schedule, which includes 24 Nextel Cup points races this season, was yet to be determined, and ideally another young driver would be paired with him in the 01 car.
Jayski has reported a rumor that Marlin is going to Furniture Row.
I am hearing that Marlin will go to Furniture Row Motorsports and run a 2nd team part-time in 2008, Kenny Wallace is the full time driver in the #78 Chevy. Regan Smith would replace Marlin in the #14 Chevy at Ginn Racing.
Martin Ends Streak of 621 Consecutive Starts on Top
Mark Martin closed out the current longest consecutive streak start in NASCAR with a top-10 finish in Sunday's Kobalt Tools 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. With the finish, Martin maintained his lead in the Nextel Cup point standings, despite the fact that he will not race next week in Bristol. With the finish, Martin opens the season with four consecutive top-10 finishes, for the first time since 2000 and for only the third time in his career. Martin will now bow out of the car next weekend as the oldest driver in NASCAR history to lead the points for more than one week. Martin and the U.S. Army Team started the race fourth after a strong qualifying effort on Friday, but struggled early with a loose race car, dropping as far back as 16th during the race.
"It is really cool and I guess it's kind of a story book way to go out leading the points after chasing those points so hard for the last 20 years," said Martin. "It's definitely the way to do it and I just can't say enough about this U.S. Army Race team. They are a fabulous team and an awesome group of guys and it's just so awesome to finally see them get the recognition they deserve. I sure wish I had been driving their car a little sooner."
"We weren't as good today as we had been the first couple of races," said Martin. "But the guys on the Army team never gave up and we kept getting a little bit better each time. They were able to gain positions on pit road during those last two stops and we were able to bring home a top-10 finish. "They also allowed me to leave here the point leader and I have to thank them for all they have done for me this year," added Martin. "These guys are just fabulous and they give their heart and soul and they are finally getting the recognition they deserve."
Check out that smile on Mark's face and tell me he is not having the time of his life.
Being with a new team with no owner points Regan Smith needed to be in the top-three in Pole Day speed to have been assured a starting position for next Sunday's Daytona 500. In order for the rookie driver from Cato, N.Y. to be 100 percent sure of making the 500, he will have to finish in the top-two among the drivers in his qualifying race who are not automatically qualified for the 500. The top-35 drivers in points from the 2006 season gain an automatic berth in the 500.
"I have mixed feelings, " said Smith. " We wanted to run faster and be in the top three today, but we were just a few ticks off. For a new team I am proud of the job everyone did. Our Ginn Resorts Chevy is good, we just need to put ourselves in the right position and race smart during the closing laps in Thursday race. I don't think anyone is going to be timid, including our team."
Thursday's Gatorade Duel races will be televised on SPEED. The first race begins at 2 p.m. ET. Smith, making his first career qualifying attempt in the Nextel Cup Series, posted the 25th fastest time among the 61 cars taking part in Sunday's Pole Day at Daytona International Speedway.
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