Truex, Labonte, Allmendinger In Latest NASCAR Silly Season Scenario

Address:http://www.sirius-speedway.com/2008/12/truex-labonte-allmendinger-in-lat\
est.html

December 9, 2008


Sirius Speedway has learned that DEI-Ganassi Racing is making a serious
push to add another sponsor to its lineup, in an effort to avoid the
possible loss of driver Martin Truex, Jr., and sponsor, Bass Pro Shops.
Language in the contracts of both Truex and Bass Pro Shops reportedly
requires DEI to field at least two fulltime teammates for Truex next
season, and with only Aric Almirola's unsponsored #8 car likely to
return, sources say DEI had little choice but to merge with Ganassi, in
an effort to retain their only funded driver.

The merged DEI-Ganassi stable now includes Truex's Bass Pro
Shops-sponsored #1, Juan Pablo Montoya's #42 with partial sponsorship
from Wrigley's, the #41 car with Target sponsorship, and Almirola's
unsponsored #8.

Sources say the team made a major push recently to upgrade Fastenal's
NASCAR Nationwide Series sponsorship to a Sprint Cup deal, but were left
high and dry when Fastenal declined the offer in order to begin
discussions with another major NASCAR team.

Where might Truex and Bass Pro Shops land, if they were to opt-out of
their current deal with DEI-Ganassi? Speculation centers on Stewart-Haas
Racing, with Truex teaming with Tony Stewart and Ryan Newman. Stewart
said weeks ago that his team is not looking to field a third car next
season, and team spokesman Mike Arning echoed those thoughts today.

"We would obviously have to take a good, hard look at a situation like
that, but I think we would be hard-pressed to make it happen," said
Arning. "We have a lot to prove to people next year; specifically that
we can compete right out of the box as a two-car team. Adding a third
car at this late date would be extremely difficult, and while it's
obviously not my call, my guess is that it might be too much to take
on."
However, fully funded drivers are few and far between these days.
Particularly drivers with the talent of Martin Truex, Jr.

Adding another layer of intrigue to the story are unconfirmed reports
that Bobby Labonte may be negotiating to jump to DEI-Ganassi Racing,
driving the #41 Target car. The deal would be contingent on Labonte's
ability to negotiate an exit from Petty Enterprises, where he is signed
through the 2012 season. A spokesman for DEI-Ganassi Racing said today
that while he has heard Labonte's name as one of many rumored to be in
the running for the #41 car, he has no knowledge of any ongoing
negotiations.

A number of cards obviously remain to be dealt at this point. But at
present, the most likely scenario appears to be for Labonte to negotiate
his departure from Petty Enterprises, allowing him to move to
DEI-Ganassi Racing with sponsorship from Target. That would keep Truex
and his Bass Pro Shops sponsorship in-house, opening the door for AJ
Allmendinger to drive the #43 Dodge next season for the newly merged
Gillett-Evernham/Petty Enterprises tandem.

POSTED BY DAVE MOODY AT 2:01 PM

Whatever it takes......