In Indianapolis, Curt Cavin reports Panther DRR -- or Dreyer & Reinbold Racing -- will “cease operations” after the Indianapolis 500 “unless something close to a miracle happens.” Sources confirmed that the team “owned by Dennis Reinbold and Robbie Buhl have decided sponsorship isn’t there to continue.” Driver Oriol Servia, whose car is fielded by DRR, said, “I knew we were short on sponsorship money, but we haven’t missed a single test. We haven’t skipped anything” (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 4/26). Reinbold said, “It’s disappointing, obviously, but financially it has to make sense. IndyCar racing is getting more and more affordable and it needs to continue that way but we just don’t have the funds to continue past May” (SPEEDTV.com, 4/2).
MEMORIAL SALUTE: Chip Ganassi Racing on Thursday announced new sponsorships with Vizio and Hulu for the Indy 500 and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coca-Cola 600, both over Memorial Day weekend. The programs include major associate-level branding on both IndyCar driver Ryan Briscoe’s No. 8 Honda and NASCAR driver Jamie McMurray’s No. 1 Chevy. The sponsors also will see primary branding on driver Kyle Larson’s No. 32 Chevy in the Nationwide Series History 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway (CGR).
RUN RICKY RUN: Nationwide Insurance announced a two-year deal with Sprint Cup Series driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Nationwide will be Stenhouse's primary sponsor for three races in '13, four events in '14 and will serve as his associate sponsor for all other races (Nationwide).
