Ganassi abandons NASCAR series
This is news that no one expected, not even the main party. But Chip Ganassi couldn’t turn down a tempting offer from Trackhouse Racing to give up the NASCAR Cup team.
It is the end of an era.
He said the deal was sealed in the past few days. It will be in effect at the end of this season.
Ganassi said, “Honestly, my NASCAR team wasn’t up for sale, but after speaking, I realized it was a good deal, both for my organization and for Trackhouse. I am convinced this acquisition will allow my old team to see better days.”
Who will leave?
Talks began about two months ago but intensified last week.
The Trackhouse team, founded by former Xfinity Series driver Justin Marks, is already racing Daniel Suarez in the NASCAR Cup and plans to enter two cars next year, one of which will be entrusted to the Mexican.
Given that Kyle Busch and Ross Chastain are wearing Ganassi’s colors in 2021, one of these drivers will undoubtedly have to find a steering wheel elsewhere next year.
It is not the end of the offers
However, Ganassi has been keen to silence some rumors that he might consider selling all of his sporting assets. However, it is not.
“I’m leaving NASCAR, but I’m not leaving motor racing,” he explained.
He will remain particularly active in the Indy series as he had a fruitful journey primarily with veteran New Zealand pilot Scott Dixon.
unforgettable victories
Ganassi is also the only pennant in history to have won both the Indianapolis 500 and Daytona 500 and the prestigious endurance events at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and Daytona.
Since his NASCAR Cup debut in 2001, Ganassi has seen his drivers score 14 wins in 1,317 starts. The most productive contestant without context was Kyle Larson, who raced six times on the winner’s circuit.
But after racist remarks made last year during a hypothetical race, Larson was fired… before he was recruited this year by the famous Hendrick Motorsports team.