It's Starting to Come Together at EGR

[Gateway Fan]

Labonte to #8? Target to #42? UPDATE: There have been numerous Bobby Labonte sightings at Earnhardt Ganassi Racing, but the latest twist places the 2000 Cup champion in the #8 Chevy where he would be reunited with his former Petty crew chief Doug Randolph. Randolph moved to DEI last year to become crew chief for Paul Menard. Labonte worked with Jeff Meendering on the #43 Petty Dodge in 2007. Meendering has since left to be the car chief for Tony Stewart. It's also been rumored that the Target sponsorship will move to the #42 Dodge and Juan Pablo Montoya.(Fox Sports)
BUT: Announced in mid-November, Dale Earnhardt Inc. and Chip Ganassi Racing agreed to merge creating a Chevy-powered, four-car stable with Almirola in the #8 car, Martin Truex Jr. in the #1 car, and Montoya in the #42 car. The fourth driver in the #41 car could be Bobby Labonte with Target's support but then again team leaders told Almirola he may slide into the car as well. "It is something they have kicked around and talked about," Almirola said. "But really and truly we want to run four cars. That is the goal because everybody knows to be competitive you have to have a multi-car team. They have said if we have to run three cars it may be a possibility but it is not our goal."(NASCAR.com)(1-11-2009)
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.(ESPN.com)(1-12-2009) Comment here

and

Siegel close to leaving DEI: A NASCAR team source told ESPN's Kelly Naqi that Dale Earnhardt Inc. president of global operations Max Siegel is close to leaving the team. Siegel said he's talking to DEI chief executive officer Teresa Earnhardt about his future plans with the team, which was part of a merger and has been renamed Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates. When contacted, Siegel said, "This has been a great opportunity and I have always been committed to doing what's in the best interests of the sport and the company. I am currently in discussions with Teresa about how I can have the most positive impact on the future of DEI."(ESPN.com)(1-11-2009) Comment here

http://www.jayski.com/cupnews.htm

[irloyal]

Good Riddance to Max!


He was always part of the problem.

[Niseguy]

I like the title,"Global Operations".....must be another world outside North Carolina he's been dealing with. lol

[Bruce Spencer]

"Doing in the best interests of the sport" would see Max hitting the road for good.

[Fueler]

I like the title,"Global Operations".....must be another world outside North Carolina he's been dealing with. lol

That title fits a lot of people's feelings about Max... that's he's an alien on this planet. He definitely has an ego too big for earth!

[porscheman]

Quote;

Dale Earnhardt Inc. president of global operations Max Siegel is close to leaving the team.

Turns out that Walt Disney was right ... "It's a small world after all!" At least that's what Max and Teresa made it ...



porscheman

[Racechic317]

Go Juan Pablo Montoya!!

[CrewChief]

Look's like another 1/2 car off the grid however as Almirola goes to a part time roll.

[silva33]

will the #8 run the Wrigley's sponsorship?

[CrewChief]

So much for that plan as Labonte goes instead to the #96 HOF/Yates ride. How bad of a mess must the EGR team be if Labonte actually picked that ride over the #8.

[Racechic317]

Looks like Bobbys out. Aric has to be happy right now

[porscheman]

"Doing in the best interests of the sport" would see Max hitting the road for good.

Well, there he goes. A surprise to absolutely no one I expect.

From Jayski;

Max L. Siegel, former president of global operations for Dale Earnhardt Inc., is rejoining Baker & Daniels to lead an expansion of the law firm's sports and entertainment practice.

Baker & Daniels says Siegel's experience as an industry insider makes him "ideally suited" to head the team, according to a news release issued today.

Siegel, a native of Indianapolis, represents a variety of entertainers and athletes.

At Dale Earnhardt Inc., he was the highest ranking African-American executive in the NASCAR industry.

Siegel served on the executive team that produced pop artists like Britney Spears, Usher and Justin Timberlake.

Siegel also has worked with gospel stars Kirk Franklin and Donnie McClurkin, and he has represented sports athletes like Tony Gwynn and Reggie White.

He was last with B&D from 1992 to 1994.

Two of B&D's past partners have taken new sports jobs. Jack Swarbrick and Fred Glass recently accepted athletic director positions at the University of Notre Dame and Indiana University, respectively.

What did it take to lose the star driver and virtually all sponsorship? 18 months maybe?

Lucky thing that he'll still be an adviser (to what, I'm not sure) and have a key role in NASCAR'S Diversity Program ... how fortunate for them!

From espn.com;


President of global operations at newly formed Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing to run NASCAR's diversity program.

Siegel will continue to consult Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing on strategic initiatives on the business and marketing side through the new company he has started in conjunction with his former law firm, Baker and Daniels, which has offices worldwide. "We're really not looking at it as parting ways," Siegel said. "I want to do what's in the best interest of the sport and the company. I initiated the merger discussions [with Dale Earnhardt Inc. and Chip Ganassi Racing]. They were two organizations that fit well together. "Chip being the principal owner is very hands-on. [CEO] Teresa [Earnhardt] has a passion for racing, but really is focusing on the future and growth of the business. I feel this move gives me the best flexibility to accomplish my ultimate goals." Siegel said he was offered the opportunity to remain at DEI, but wanted to pursue other opportunities to help the sport grow. Taking over management of NASCAR's Drive for Diversity, which is a NASCAR initiative but not a NASCAR program, was one of those opportunities he could not have tackled while part of the race team. "NASCAR is an exciting sport," said Siegel, one of the highest-ranking minority executives in the sport. "It's been my desire for many years, even working with Reggie White along with Rick Hendrick, Joe and J.D. Gibbs and Jay Frye, to bring minority participation to a wider audience." The Drive for Diversity program's goal is to generate minority and female competitors for the sport, not just as drivers but as pit crew members, team officials and executives. "We are proud to have Max and his team managing the Drive for Diversity efforts," NASCAR chairman Brian France said in a statement. "His strategic, operational and marketing experience will be a great benefit to the initiative and the entire industry. "We're proud of the accomplishments of Drive for Diversity after just five seasons, and we expect Max's involvement will take the initiative to the next level." Siegel's goal is to increase the program's credibility inside and outside of the sport, to create mainstream marketing programs and further involve the entire NASCAR industry. There currently are no full-time minority drivers in either of NASCAR's top two series. "We have to operationally develop really close relationships with the top-tier teams," Siegel said. "We have to have a very structured program with not only criteria to enter the program, but to make sure teams have equipment and talent to move them forward." Siegel's tackling of his new opportunity also comes on the heels of NASCAR recently settling a $225 million lawsuit filed by Mauricia Grant, who said she was subjected to racial discrimination and sexual harassment during her two-plus years working for the organization. Siegel entered the sport prior to the 2007 season following a successful career in the entertainment industry. He faced many difficult situations, including the departure of Dale Earnhardt Jr., the merger with Ginn Racing and now the merger with Ganassi. His goal is to continue to learn the sport from all aspects and maybe one day get into ownership. He felt stepping away from his role at Earnhardt-Ganassi was the best way to make that happen. "No regrets," Siegel said. "DEI, it's a great company. They offered me a tremendous opportunity. I plan to have a long future in the sport and continue to work with not only them but other companies on strategic initiatives. "The bottom line is all the teams have to find a new way to go on the marketing side and really revamp the whole approach to securing financial support from commercial partners."

Sheesh! With help like this ... who needs enemies?



porscheman

[jonesi]

Also Smith is signed to a partial schedule in #78.
Soooo...4th car goes to Riggs, Raines, McDowell, Nemechek, Petty, McCumbee???

[CrewChief]

Also Smith is signed to a partial schedule in #78.
Soooo...4th car goes to Riggs, Raines, McDowell, Nemechek, Petty, McCumbee???

Or they just shelve it.

[schraderfan]

If they're not going to sell the number, which I think NASCAR doesn't like anymore, they might at least run the 500.

[Gateway Fan]

From jayski:

Earnhardt-Ganassi down to two teams? When Dale Earnhardt Inc. merged with Chip Ganassi Racing last year, the plan was to run four cars in NASCAR's top series. It could be down to two. Driver #1-Martin Truex Jr. said Friday night that Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing is planning to field just three cars for next month's Daytona 500 -- with him, #42-Juan Pablo Montoya and #8-Aric Almirola behind the wheels. And Almirola said he has no guarantee to drive beyond the season-opening race because of sponsorship woes. "As far as I can tell, I believe three," Truex Jr. said at NASCAR's preseason tour at Daytona International Speedway. "I'm pretty sure that's what's going on. ... I believe that's it. That's about all I've got there. Montoya, me and Aric." Truex Jr. and Montoya are fully sponsored for 2009, but Almirola conceded his lack of sponsorship could be a problem this season. "Chip and Teresa [Earnhardt] have to do whatever makes financial sense to them, and hopefully for me that means run 36 races," Almirola said. "For them, I hope that's the case because that means that they'll have been able to afford to do that. Now, saying that, I don't know. I'm not privy to look at their financial statements every week or every month, so I don't know what they're going to be willing to do and not do without a sponsor. The moral of the story is we need a sponsor badly. We need sponsorship dollars to be able to take our #8 Earnhardt-Ganassi with Felix Sabbatta's Chevy to every single race that we can. We need sponsorship dollars."(ESPN/AP)(1-17-2009) Comment here