Wheels & Deals: Sabates Says Sorenson To Drive No. 10 Next Year
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Sabates Says Sorenson Appears Headed
To Gillett Evernham Motorsports |
Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR) co-Owner Felix Sabates said that Reed Sorenson, who drives CGR's No. 41 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Dodge, "appears headed to Gillett Evernham Motorsports [GEM] to drive the No. 10 car next year." Sabates: "I think Reed is today as good as he's ever going to be. If somebody else wants to put him in a car, fine with us." A GEM spokesperson said that the team had no comment. Patrick Carpentier currently drives the No. 10 car for the team. Meanwhile, CGR "must find a sponsor to fill 18 races" for their No. 42 Sprint Cup Series entry driven by Juan Pablo Montoya, after Texaco/Havoline last week announced it is leaving the sport after this season. Sabates: "Texaco was a liability for us because out of loyalty to them, we weren't aggressively looking to replace them. We kept hoping they maybe would wake up one of these days and decide they need to be in NASCAR" (SPORTING NEWS TODAY, 8/25).
LOOKING FOR A PARTNER: Hall Of Fame Racing co-Owner Tom Garfinkel Saturday said that options for the team in '09 "include a possible merger/acquisition of another team." Garfinkel: "We're evaluating all our options for next year ... to be able to build a great team and be competitive in the future." Garfinkel added that the team "would like to stay with Toyota but it might change depending on what happens." Garfinkel: "As we look at other teams' situations, some of them require different manufacturers and we're having those conversations as well" (SCENEDAILY.com, 8/24).
DRIVER CHANGES: Richard Childress Racing (RCR) Saturday announced that Sprint Cup Series driver Casey Mears "has signed a three-year deal to drive the No. 07 Jack Daniels-sponsored car." ESPN.com's David Newton reported current No. 07 RCR driver Clint Bowyer "will move into the No. 33 General Mills-sponsored car," and RCR Owner Richard Childress "didn't rule out merging with another organization to get the owner points of a car guaranteed a spot in the top 35 and move them to the 33." However, Childress "seemingly ruled out a merger" with DEI (ESPN.com, 8/23).
AGENT DOUBLE ZERO: Aaron's Sales & Lease Ownership will sponsor Michael Waltrip Racing's (MWR) No. 00 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Toyota to be driven by driver David Reutimann for 18 races in '09. Aaron's also will sponsor MWR's No. 99 Nationwide Series entry for 10 races (Aaron's). MWR Owner Michael Waltrip said that he is "working to fill out half of the season's sponsorship for Reutimann," who is moving to the No. 00 from the No. 44 in '09 (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 8/23). Meanwhile, MMA promoter Affliction Entertainment will sponsor MWR’s No. 00 Toyota driven by Mike Skinner at Sunday’s Sprint Cup Series Pepsi 500 at Auto Club Speedway. The paint scheme will tout Affliction’s “Day of Reckoning” show scheduled for October 11 (Auto Club Speedway).
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