DEI-Ganassi merger details

November 12, 9:21 PMDetroit NASCAR ExaminerJosh Lobdell

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Now that we have had a chance to sort through all the information, facts have been checked and rechecked I can now tell all of you what the combined team of DEI and Ganassi will look like.

Martin Truex will continue to drive the #1 car with sponsorship from Bass Pro Shops. Aric Almirola will drive the #8 car with a sponsor to be determined. More then likely that will be long time Ganassi sponsor Target. Juan Montoya will drive the #42 car with partial backing from Wrigley. This car still needs another half sponsorship and that could come from DEI sponsor Prudential Financial.

The new team would like to run the #41 full time but sponorship dollars may limit what they can do there. If they find a deal AJ Allmendinger has to be the favorite for the seat.  However since State Water Heaters is looking for a new team, and would prefer to stay with driver Scott Riggs, this seat may be decided by who can bring in the sponsor over who could perform better there.

Chip Ganassi was upbeat about the news saying:

"In this ultra-competitive era of NASCAR, it is necessary to build and sustain the strongest team possible and our combining with the people and equipment at Dale Earnhardt Inc. will help create a strong four-car program for years to come.  This is a win-win for both organizations as well as all of our partners.”

While that is true, this move is not a win win for the 110 people let go by DEI as this merger was announced. Just a few more casualties of a weak economy.