Mark Martin now a DEI driver?

President Lou Demian · Lou Demian - President

Mark Martin now a DEI driver?

Tooz · Matt Sealey Former Member

so by that, Menard is locked in this week?
That was pretty quick!

President Lou Demian · Lou Demian - President

DEI, Ginn Merger to Be Announced Wednesday: Dale Earnhardt Inc. will announce on Wednesday that it is merging with Ginn Racing, effective immediately, and will acquire all Ginn assets, including its massive headquarters. Sources said the company will be known as Dale Earnhardt Inc., but that Ginn owner Bobby Ginn will remain a partner in the business. DEI president Max Siegel will oversee the operation, and Ginn CEO Jay Frye will assist DEI executives John Story, Steve Hmiel and Richie Gilmore in sorting out personnel details, sources said. DEI will field four fully-funded racecars in the Allstate 400 this weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway -- the #1 Chevy driven by Martin Truex Jr., the #8 driven by Dale Earnhardt Jr., the #15 driven by Paul Menard and the #01 driven by Mark Martin. One of Ginn's other two former cars, the #13 or 14, essentially becomes Menard's #15 team, and the other team will simply discontinue operation [rumors still say that the #78 team will get the owner points from the team]. Menard will pick up the owner's points held by Ginn's # 13 car that was 34th. DEI plans to move its entire operation to Ginn's Mooresville, N.C., facility. The organization begun by the late Dale Earnhardt has been looking for land for almost a year because there is no room to expand at the current facility. #13-Joe Nemechek and #14-Sterling Marlin were given their release last week, with rookie Regan Smith moving into Marlin's car for the remainder of the year before the merger. Smith likely will finish the season splitting the #01 with Martin. Sources said Martin is committed to running at least 22 races for DEI next season and working long-term with the developmental driver program as he was at Ginn.(ESPN.com)(7-25-2007)

Wow, DEI moving too. It's nice to see Martin now part of the DEI fold and Menard will be able to make the remaining races in the year. Too bad Nemechek and Marlin were totally screwed though.

Tooz · Matt Sealey Former Member

with this merger, I think DEI will now have the rights to both Carmichael and McGrath, the two-wheel wonders.
So I wonder if the #15 car will move up in Owner points now, even if he doesn't in the driver points.

Tooz · Matt Sealey Former Member

now that I think about it, I think McGrath is with JR. Motorsports.

Tooz · Matt Sealey Former Member

Max Siegel said DEI's current facility will remain the home for administrative offices and a state-of-the-art pit stop school. He said the shop area will be used to field two Busch Series programs, a couple of Busch East Series cars and possibly a Truck Series program.

Siegel said DEI actually had discussions about purchasing Ginn Racing, then MB2 Motorsports, last season before it was bought by real estate entrepreneur Bobby Ginn.

He said Ginn will remain a part of DEI as a partial owner and financial partner. He would not specify what percentage of the company Ginn owns.

"I have some really exciting marketing initiatives in how we go about our commercial department. His expertise in resort hospitality definitely is a plus," Siegel said.

But the Nos. 13 and 14 teams will no longer exist with the 13 being eliminated entirely and the 14 points going to the No. 15. With the No. 13, which was 39th in owner points, gone the No. 21 team of the Wood Brothers will move into the top 35 guaranteed a spot in the field.

Siegel said what will happen to Regan Smith, who had been slated to drive the No. 14 for the remainder of the season before the merger, will be determined in the near future. For now, Smith will drive in the Truck Series this weekend at Indianapolis and not the Cup race as planned.

Aric Almirola, who recently moved from Joe Gibbs Racing to Ginn, is expected to split the rest of the season in the No. 01 with Martin, who has been running a part-time schedule.

Siegel said Martin is committed to running at least 22 races for DEI next season and working long-term with the developmental driver program as he was at Ginn.

Ginn Racing will continue to use engines built by Hendrick Motorsports this weekend, then begin using engines built by the new DEI and Richard Childress Racing program the remainder of the year.