Ganassi Closes Down No. 40 Team

Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates announced today that it was ceasing operations of its No. 40 team, driven by Dario Franchitti due to lack of sponsorship.

In a press release, Ganassi said:

This is a difficult decision for [co-owner] Felix [Sabates] and I that did not come without its share of anguish. In this tough business environment, continuing to run the car without proper funding has become increasingly difficult.

The team is considering its future plans for Franchitti, which could include finishing out the Nationwide season.

Ganassi’s other two teams, the No. 41, driven by Reed Sorenson, and the No. 42, driven by Juan Pablo Montoya, will remain full time in the season.

Ganassi said:

If I keep going I run the risk of dragging the other two teams down. I don’t want to do that. There’s no money. It makes no sense to be running this out of my pocket. I had to put a stop to it.

The decision to shut down the team also meant more than 70 layoffs at CGRFS.

Almirola To Drive No. 8 For DEI In 2009

As expected, Dale Earnhardt Inc announced today that Aric Almirola will be driving the No. 8 Chevy for DEI next season.

The only bit of interesting news is that the U.S. Army was not mentioned as being the sponsor for 2009.

Armirola To Drive DEI’s No. 8 Full Time In 2009

Dale Earnhardt Inc. is expected to officially announce today that Aric Almirola will drive the DEI’s No. 8 U.S. Army Chevy next season, according to ESPN.

Mark Martin is also expected to announce sometime this week that he will drive the Hendrick Motorsports No. 5 Chevy full time next season, taking over for Casey Mears.

There were several reasons for DEI to put Almirola in the U.S. Army No. 8 next season. The first is that he needs more seat time. The second is that he fits the Army demographic more than Martin, who turns 105 next year. (Joking!) And third, that was always the plan. 

DEI informed Martin of the decision to go with Almirola full time back in May. At that time, Martin expressed interest in competing in more than the number of races he was under contract to race next season.

Almirola’s relationship with No. 8 crew chief Tony Gibson was cited at the reason Almirola will end up in the No. 8. The No. 01 was also an option.

To me, this move makes sense. Almirola needs seat time, and he needs chemistry with his crew chief. Splitting seat time hampers both of those things, so this ultimately is a good decision for DEI.

Martin moving over the Hendrick makes sense, too, if you think about it. While it is somewhat annoying that he’s coming out of retirement, he still wants to make one last run at a championship in good equipment.

It also makes sense if the plan is to have Brad Keselowski take over that ride in 2010. That way he gets more experience in the Nationwide series and can make a better entrance into Sprint Cup.