"Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates (CGRFS) announced today that due to a lack of sponsorship funding it will cease operation of the team's #40 Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) Dodge driven by Dario Franchitti beginning this weekend in Daytona. "This is a difficult decision for Felix and I that did not come without its share of anguish," said Team Owner Chip Ganassi. "In this tough business environment continuing to run the car without proper funding has become increasingly difficult." CGRFS is committed to Franchitti's continued stockcar development and are currently in discussions with him on his racing options with the team which could include running the balance of the 2008 Nationwide season in the #40 Fastenal Dodge. Currently the #42 Texaco/Havoline/Juicy Fruit Dodge of Juan Pablo Montoya is 21st in owner points while the #41 Target Dodge driven by Reed Sorenson is sitting 31st in the standings."
For now, it seems this Indy Champ doesn't have a chance to be a NASCAR Champ.
Anyone else think this is strange to happen mid-season? The sad state of NASCAR rolls on ...
Lori - Funny that you should post this. I had a conversation with my husband about this very topic about a 1/2 hour ago and wondered what was up with this. Just a rumor or some truth here?
Does Franchitti hang out in NASCAR for the remainder of the season, or go back to IRL in 2009? Hate to see him lose his ride...but racing costs money, and if the team isnt qualifying well, and losing money, what's the owner to do?
I do like Franchitti, and hope that if the this is true, that he will be able to get a ride for 2009 back in the IRL series.
Foxsports has picked it up now too...I agree Lori, this doesnt bode well for Ganassi Racing. None of their teams are performing and with the problems earlier with JPM's crew chief swap, one has to wonder if Chip is making any good decisions. Obviously Dodge is struggling overall but the 40, 41 and 42 have been the worst of the bunch. Too bad for Dario, he seemed like a cool guy.
Looks like this must have been one of the teams that Doug Yates said could shut down after this season. One of the Petty teams will shut down w/o sponsorship, also. Wonder what other's are at risk? Does Waltrip possibly lose a team w/o the UPS sponsor?
Dario is a good guy and would like to see him have a chance to succeed in NASCAR. But if not, the IRL could use him badly right now.
Gerrel - it appears he'll be sent back to the NASCAR minor leagues.
I really don't understand the mid-season pulling the power cord. I was under the impression that these sponsors paid a certain amount of dollars for the entire season. Was there something in the contract that allowed the sponsor to pull out on a performance-based reason?
EDIT: Ok, I read Foxsports post about it. I thought Fastenal, others were sponsoring this car. Ganassi says he was funding it out-of-pocket. That makes more sense.
Last edited by HotfootLori on July 1st at 2:29 PM.
This is not the first time something like this has happened. Back in 2005 when Joe Gibbs started his 3rd cup team, Jason Leffler was the driver of the #11 FedEx car. Jason failed to qualify for a number of races including the 600 (Interstate Batteries let Bobby Labonte run the FedEx colors on the #18 for that race), and in October, Jason was replaced by Denny Hamlin. I don't for a minute think that Chip has another Denny waiting in the wings. My question is why do Chip's IRL teams do so well while his NASCAR teams struggle??
Ganassi's team is the best in IRL right now. Yet, his NASCAR team is slightly better than a field filler. How does that happen? Is IRL that much easier to win in than Cup is?
Dario's a good guy. He should go back to IRL where he's a proven winner.
Hot Foot Lori The tide is turning within NASCAR . As several of the smaller as well as some of the midsize teams look at their financial outlay and burdens with regard to operating a team. There's more of this to come and at the same time one has to wonder about the tenuous financial predicament that Sprint itself is in.
Say nothing of which NASCAR itself seems to be quietly not saying anything at all. As the economic dire straits start to hit home hard for some of the teams.
With the exception of Stewart, Not many of the open wheelers really stay in NASCAR for long. They tend to gravitate back to the open wheel series after a year or two based on past history from back in the day..
It is ironic that Chip does not put much into the NASCAR series but will dump what ever it takes into the IRL. If he is to survive, he will have to make a choice to stay in NASCAR or get out. Most likely get out is my thought.
Lori, I sure was shocked by this. Wonder what Felix Sabates is thinking also. He and Chip can't get a sponsor? Strange to me. I did hear that they plan on keeping Sorenson on the team. They said they brought him to CUP too soon, but they and he have invested too much to let him go. Again, odd.
photogr I was just about to make the same comment about Stewart when I saw your's. Great minds think alike I guess.lol
It is too bad for Dario. I figured that something was going to happen at Ganassi. They just have not been performing. But I figured it would be at the end of the season. I figured that Dario would be wanting to go back to open wheel racing.
He is a champion, and he wants to win races and championships. Sometimes I wonder if Ganassi uses his NASCAR teams as a tax right off each year. To help offset the money he makes with the open wheel teams.
I'm stunned that many Cup drivers don't leave NASCAR once they amass some level of wealth and move to driving in a series requiring more well-rounded talent (say, ... late model Figure 8 racing, swamp buggies, the "It's A Small World" boats at Disneyworld, ...). How fun can it be buzzing around a bunch of ovals in a pack of forty-three heavy, unresponsive sleds for ten straight months out of the year?
Chux - just the sort of predatory sleezebaggery we've grown to expect from you. Shame (but good luck in your quest).
Dodges just plain stink. The only race they have a chance is this weekend. Keep an eye on Reed Sorenson who has help push Dale Jr to a win and in the past has been in the think of it up front.
Great pickup Lori, again before all the big wigs catch on, You have already broke the story. Keep up the great work. Cheers
Cuda ~ no problem. Good point. I hope Dario finds greener pastures myself.
Dave ~ You really want to debate this issue? It's not NASCAR's fault these guys want to come over and try their skills at driving these machines, and then fail to acquire results. Villeneuve, Franchitti, Montoya (not exactly stellar results), and so on. I personally, Dave, feel like they add an excellent dynamic to the driver makeup for NASCAR and my comments last year were nothing but supportive. There have been several open wheeler to make it in NASCAR, and arguably the best driver ever is Mario Andretti, who has won in every thing imaginable. Please spare the snobbery, that is shameful itself.
Forensic ~ I've also heard that Chrysler may be filing bankruptcy. That has to put the Dodge teams on alert as well, don't you think?
Vol ~ done, and thank you.
Last edited by HotfootLori on July 2nd at 10:20 AM.
My point was: most drivers who move to NASCAR do so because of the money. It CERTAINLY (insert snobbery belief here if you choose) is not for the range of racing skills required to be good/great in the series. The range of racing skills required is quite narrow in oval-based stock car racing. Nothing along the lines of F1, GT/GA, even sprint cars. But it is what is hot now & Cup racing is the pinnacle of that very narrow formula.
For what it's worth, I think IndyCar is far too narrow of a formula as well - although one I find personally more interesting (far more responsive and fast cars, and open wheels require more skillful racing - no bump-drafting or swapping paint to make a point or to facilitate a pass).
Popular support rarely is a good indicator of quality or correctness. Just check out what portion of our great society were self-admitted segregationists fifty years ago. Or how many people respond positively to Joe Horn's shooting of the burglary suspects in Pasadena, TX (nearly 2 to 1 in support of his killing of the burglary suspects). Or the election and re-election of George W. Bush to the highest elected office in the country, the pinnacle of national leadership, that which surely requires a person of a superior intellect, communication skills, and world vision.
Snobbery - just because I don't find NASCAR to be the pinnacle of auto racing (or even all that close to it) and like to make that point once in awhile? Say it ain't so.
Well Dave, I'm not a George W. apologist, but are you saying that Al Gore and John Kerry were better choices to the highest elected office? Gore claimed to have superior intellect, until all was revealed. The President is a figure-head office of a flawed two-party system, nothing more nor less.
Not saying those guys were better at all. Nonetheless, We The People elected this guy, and then RE-ELECTED him. I do believe in our system of government. We get what we deserve. And you're absolutely correct - we are all responsible to fix whatever might be wrong with the system (as daunting as that may seem).
That starts with recognizing it has flaws.
O.K. - moving to pompous. Just really pissed today at the failure to indict the guy who killed the burglars, despite the fact the police were telling him to stay in his home and to let them handle it; and, the resultant overwhelming support for the decision NOT to indict him ...
DaveinIndy- I have to disagree on a few things. Now that I have been living over here in the UK and getting all the F1 races etc. You have about the top 6 cars on the grid racing for the win, and 90 percent of the wins you don't even see the second place car. Thats racing?
The start of a F1 race is the most exciting it gets and that last a few laps and then they are a train of cars. What passing do they do besides the start. Heck the Indy racing have had more exciting racing of late then the F1. Yes the cars have more to them that you need a map to know whats what I will give you that.
We have seen the skilled needed by open wheelers coming over and doing nothing but crashing or near last place. Lets both agree on both it comes down to how much money the team has to who will be up front mst often. Cheers
Dave...are you also UltraMega, in addition to soccer ref? Why would I take the side of criminals invading someone's private domain? I haven't even reviewed the case, but I would bet money that these invaders had prior records and were not in a place where they would be safe from gunshots, JAIL.
It's pretty simple, don't break in someplace that's not yours, and try and steal stuff that's not yours and you probably won't get shot.
Glad they didn't indict him. The guy feared for his life. Know what kind of message that sends to the criminals. Hate to say this but the police really have their hands tied any more when dealing with criminals. Most of the time they get to the scene too late. So it is up to the citizens to deal out proper justice if they are in danger.
I will give you a case in point here. This is a true story from Cincinnati.
Two teeneage thugs jumped an old man in a convience store parking lot and proceeded to beat him with base ball bats. Another customer saw this going on and called 911 then advised them he was armed and would break up the assault. The 911 dispatcher told him to stay out of it and let the police handle it. Reluctantly he did and watched the thugs kill the old man. The police arrived 15 minutes later. The thugs got away free and were never caught.
Had the other customer went with his instincts, the old man might have lived. I for one think we have a right to defend our property and lives or others with what ever force is needed. The time where the thugs rule the streets has to come to an end. It is time to take back the streets from the thugs.
The man in Texas was safe inside his house. He went outside and yelled at the men on his property. They turned and ran. He shot them in the back and killed them. PLEASE! That was just wrong. He could have stayed in the house. If they entered the house then he could have shot them. Shoot someone in the back running away? You people really think that was okay?
Forensic - agree that F1 is a different animal - incredibly exotic cars & most definitely an acquired taste - but the most exciting qualifying in auto racing. And I enjoy the races too - what else would you expect from a soccer fan?
Han - you ignorant #### ... we don't execute burglars, so why should a next-door neighbor flush with bloodlust be allowed to exact his version of justice on the spot (when cops were already there, and had been telling him on the phone NOT to go outside, to let them handle it)? And it's not last years news; the decision NOT to indict, which was my concern, happened within the last 24 hours.
Vol - I kNow we disagree about some things, but can count on you and me to be on the same page with most things related to criminal justice.
Photog - This situation wasn't a case where the shooter should have feared for his life. The cops told him to stay in his house, and he defied them saying "I'm gonna kill 'em". Which he then did.
Had he stayed in his house as told, there might be two live & free criminals. Had he stayed in his house, more likely there would be two incarcerated criminals (a cop was in his car watching this unfold). But he had to go play judge, jury, and executioner to "stop" an otherwise non-violent crime. He'll have to live with that decision the rest of his life. If he's half a human, it will eat at him terribly and he would be worthy of sympathy. If he's truly satisfied with his action - as he professes to be - he is worthy of nothing but contempt and derision (and, in any state worth it's salt, the penalties associated with manslaughter or 2nd degree murder).
Dave...name calling, the last resort of a beaten liberal. See my comment above. I thought you might be talking about a new case. Didn't know we were rehashing LAST YEAR'S news. Haven't had my ear up against the motorola awaiting word from Texas on something that happened last year.
Why did the cop sit and watch 2 men get shot in the back? Is this the same police force that you think were going to protect Horn? I find it hard to believe that a Moveon.org Kool-Aid drinker such as yourself chooses to believe the cops version of this case.
Foxmail me whichever political blog you're on. I'm not going to go on ruining Lori's sports blog with my politics.
The things we take for granted. Over here it is who commites the worse crime of the 2. So they can break in to your house, but if you put them in the hospitole for any minor thing, you get bag.
This is one for the books, A guy was relaying his flooring and left a hole and gone to the store for supplies, A man broke into his house and fell in the hole hurting his leg bad. He sued the guy for the hole in the floor and won. At least once anyone comes into your house you have the right to protect your self in any way you want in the USA.
Here you have to yelled down the him and asked, you got a bat,knife,or gun so You can match what he has so you don't commite the worse of the crimes. lol. Cheers
