Earnhardt-Ganassi to Ford? While Chip Ganassi brushed off the possibility of switching from Chevy to Ford as "just a rumor" last week at Charlotte Motor Speedway, sources told FOXSports.com that Ford initiated discussions with the team in July, and a decision could come as early as next week at Talladega Superspeedway. Although Ganassi's NASCAR drivers Jamie McMurray and Juan Pablo Montoya failed to make the 2010 Chase for the Sprint Cup field, the pair has delivered four wins this year. McMurray, who won the Daytona 500 in his return to Ganassi this season, moved from Ford's Roush Fenway Racing at the end of last year. In four years at RFR, McMurray posted just two wins. Ganassi stands to benefit through the support the company would receive from Ford both on a financial and technological basis. When it comes to the pecking order at Chevrolet, Earnhardt Ganassi Racing lulls far behind Hendrick Motorsports, Richard Childress Racing and Stewart-Haas Racing, who shares an allegiance with Hendrick. At Ford, Ganassi would be second only to Jack Roush. The area that would hit Ganassi the hardest would be the loss the company's partnership with Earnhardt Childress Racing Technology engines  currently one of the top programs in the garage. ECRT engines have won eight races this season. Only Mark Cronquist's engines at Joe Gibbs Racing have accounted for more (9) wins. With teams already preparing for the 2011 season, ECRT has been told a decision will come from Ganassi by Talladega. ECRT currently provides engines for Richard Childress Racing, EGR and Tommy Baldwin Racing. Furniture Row Racing will join the program next year.(FoxSports)(10-23-2010)

 

Interesting on a number of fronts. Part of me is happy Ford's not giving up on the Cup despite recent history giving them every reason to, but another part is sad to see them seducing yet another fallen-from-grace team after they so recently fielded a phalanx of competitive shops. I also don't envy Ford having to put up with both Teresa Earnhardt and George Gillett, talk about two people who shouldn't be majority owners in a taco stand let alone major motorsport teams.

Possibly the best part of this could be sponsors. Unlike Gillett, Ganassi is a pretty accomplished sponsor woo-er, and Ford could use some more stable sponsors. The Earnhardt name might even help, but I thought that about Petty and it hasn't really panned out.

 

I see this as Chip using FMC as leverage with Chevy in some form or fashion . . . . but I could be wrong.

 

It would be nice to see Jamie McMurray driving a Ford again ...

 

And despite his less-than-perfect reputation on the track, I bet Ford would love to have Montoya in it's stable for the South American marketing potential.

 

UPDATE: Earnhardt Ganassi Racing officials don't deny that Ford has approached them about switching manufacturers in 2011. They also say there are no plans to leave Chevy, in part because of the long-standing relationship the Earnhardt part of this equation has with General Motors, not to mention the Earnhardt Childress Racing engines that arguably are the best in the business at the moment.(ESPN.com)(10-26-2010)

 

UPDATE 2: Expect a decision on Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing's possible move from Chevy to Ford by the end of this week. Sources with the team say that Ford's offer is better financially than what Chevy can provide, but that Jamie McMurray's wins in this year's Daytona 500, Brickyard 400 and Bank Of America 500 at Charlotte were due in large part to the dominance of Earnhardt-Childress Racing Engines. "The offer is on the table, and it's up to them whether or not to take it," said a spokesperson for Ford Motor Company. "If this was a strict business decision, I think Chip (Ganassi) would make the move. But racers are a pretty loyal bunch. I honestly think it could go either way."(Sirius Speedway)(11-1-2010)

 

UPDATE 3: Earnhardt Ganassi Racing will continue its relationship with General Motors [Chevy] and Earnhardt Childress Racing Technologies. At a lunch on Wednesday celebrating Jamie McMurray's win at Charlotte Motor Speedway, employees were made aware of the decision (FoxSports)(11-3-2010)

 

Oh well, was a longshot. Considering the France Family's treatment of Ford I gotta say it's pretty nice EGR was even seriously considering the switch.

Good news for RPM, though. With EGR out of the picture they're still high on Ford's priority list (under Roush of course) especially if Petty gets the money situation sorted.

 

Yeah, I expected the same things.
EGR won 3 races this year, including Daytona 500 and Indianapolis, and all Ford teams combined won only 2 ... it would be crazy to switch to a Ford now.