HMS Sues DEI, Ginn Racing

DEI says that Bobby Ginn is on the hook for pay any termination fees from Ginn Racing’s engine leasing contract with Hendrick Motorsports.

See my updated post at my updated site at NASCAR Bits And Pieces.com.

What's Come Of That HMS - DEI Lawsuit?

Does DEI now become a Museum?

by Bruce Simmons

I jokingly stipulated in a previous post that with Dale Earnhardt Jr. gone, DEI would become a museum.

It was a sound bite that Jeff Gordon had tossed out in an interview and I conjectured on it a bit. Now, with DEI and Ginn Racing merging, and DEI looking to move their operation into Ginn's existing, (and apparently superior?) shop, (As I heard on Sirius Radio this morning) what becomes of the original DEI shop that Dale Earnhardt Sr. worked so hard to build?

Snippets and quotes:
"There are three huge benefits to us - the real estate, Mark Martin and an ability to work with Bobby Ginn on strategic development projects that Teresa has been planning for years," Max Siegel said.

DEI's teams will continue to operate in the DEI shop as well as the nearly 180,000-square-foot facility that houses Ginn's teams. The buildings are less than five miles apart in Mooresville, N.C.

As David Poole of Thatsracin.com observes, "If the “new” Dale Earnhardt Inc. moves most of its Cup operations to the former Ginn Racing shop, could what’s now the DEI headquarters become a sort of interactive Dale Earnhardt museum/attraction? If so, I’ve got the absolutely perfect name – “3 Flags Over Mooresville.” "

http://www.thatsracin.com/247/story/5626.html

What do I always say? Time will be the telling ingredient here.

DEI / Ginn Merge

DEI officials on Wednesday said that it has merged with Ginn Racing and will immediately become a four-car team for Sunday's race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Now it's been reported.

http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/news/story?seriesId=2&id=2948742

DEI and Ginn

According to Lee Spencer on Fox Sports.com, the merger between Dale Earnhardt Inc. and Ginn Racing has been completed.

Here's how it's going to pan out: 4 cars will run as DEI entries, the No 1, No 8, No 15 & No 01.
Bobby Ginn will be listed as the owner of the Nos. 01 and 15 cars.

With Ginn as the 15 car's owner, the 15 car acquired the points of the 13 car, making the 15 car in the top 25 in owners points.

Also, DEI acquires the Ginn Racing properties in Mooresville, N.C., that include a state-of-the-art shop and 7-post machine. All four teams will work out of the facilities formerly known as Ginn Racing.

Gee, wouldn't that have been nice when Jr was there?

http://msn.foxsports.com/nascar/story/7056284

Smith to Replace Marlin

Regan Smith will replace Sterling Marlin in the No. 14 car next week at Indianapolis, and Busch driver Aric Almirola will split time with Mark Martin in the No. 01 car as Ginn Racing continues its ongoing restructuring, NASCAR.COM has learned.

Read the rest at NASCAR

DEI & Ginn Merger

Dale Earnhardt, Inc. and Ginn Racing are working on a merger agreement that, if finalized, would meld the two NASCAR organizations into a single company, multiple sources close to negotiations told ESPN.com on Monday.

The deal is not done, but a decision will be made soon. Both organizations hope, sources said, to firm up outstanding details and announce a partnership immediately.

See the rest of the story at espn

Almirola to Join Ginn Racing

Aric Almirola is set to join Ginn Racing next season to split the 2008 season in the organization’s No. 01 Chevrolet team with veteran Mark Martin, the Observer has learned.

See the article at: http://www.thatsracin.com/247/story/5495.html

Ginn Racing Scrambling

Mark Martin went on board with Ginn Racing. And he's made quite the impact there.
Ginn Racing has doubled their # of employees.
But now they're scrambling, it seems, to get sponsorship for their 3rd car, and think they have a sponsor lined up for Sterling Marlin for the rest of the year.
Jay Frye, the CEO of Ginn Racing keeps hearing that they are in trouble, but denies the reports. (Nevermind the staff layoff a few days back, huh?)
In an interesting sales pitch, he says his team is a great place for sponsors to be, as they don't gouge people. (Ouch, what are you saying Jay?)

You can read all the details at ESPN

Ginn Racing Woes

I'm surprised to see this, considering how much effort they are putting into Mark Martins track time, and how willing they were to throw money at Jr to get him to their shop, (According to news sources) but it seems that maybe they've thrown too much money at Martin as Ginn Racing has layed off some shop staff!!

Several in-shop employees were laid off this week from Ginn Racing as part of a re-evaluation of its organization, team officials confirmed Thursday.

Team manager Jay Frye said last week the organization may have grown too fast and a re-evaluation was in order, particularly since two of its three Cup teams lacked full-time sponsors this season.

See the rest at http://www.thatsracin.com/242/story/5300.html

News from around NASCAR - April 28 2007

With four wins in four races and six drivers sitting in the top 10 in championship points, Toyota's current domination of the Craftsman Truck Series is obvious.

Earlier this month, the sanctioning body disallowed an intake manifold that Toyota had been running all season in its trucks and Busch cars (Toyota uses the same engine in each) after chassis dynamometer tests revealed the manufacturer had a "significant" horsepower advantage with the part, according to Craftsman Truck Series director Wayne Auton.

ESPN
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Cup Standings, as they are right now:
1 -- Jeff Gordon
2 -- Jeff Burton
3-- Matt Kenseth
4 -- Jimmie Johnson
5 -- Denny Hamlin
6 +1 Kyle Busch
7 +2 Tony Stewart
8 -- Carl Edwards
9 -3 Clint Bowyer
10 +1 Mark Martin, 405 pts behind 1st. FULL Points Standings
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No matter where you look, there are varying opinions on the contract negotiations between DEI and Dale Earnhardt Jr. When there's news, you'll hear it from me!!
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David Hyder, one of two Michael Waltrip Racing employees suspended by NASCAR in a cheating scandal at Daytona in February, parted ways with the team on Friday. "As of this morning, Michael Waltrip Racing and David Hyder have ended their employment relationship," Waltrip said Friday at Talladega Superspeedway. AP Sports
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Tony Stewart Regrets wrestling remark
Before he was allowed in the racetrack, NASCAR made sure Tony Stewart knew the rules. Summoned to a 6 a.m. meeting Friday morning with top series officials, the two-time champion retracted every bit of the sharp rant he launched against NASCAR while admitting he damaged the sport's credibility by likening it to professional wrestling. AP Sports NASCAR.com
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Michael Waltrip thinks the qualifying process needs to have a change! (It's not what you might think!!) Waltrip wants the non-qualifiers to make their qualifying laps after the top 35 are done. His point is to take away an advantage a team might have on weather changes. ESPN.com
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Montoya fined for obscene gesture
Juan Pablo Montoya was fined $10,000 by NASCAR on Wednesday for making an obscene gesture on live television last week. Montoya, who was also placed on probation through the end of the year, waved a finger at a camera following practice last week at Phoenix International Raceway. Team officials have maintained the gesture was made in fun and he was unaware the camera was providing a live feed. (Where multiple networks have multiple cameras at all times on all on track action??!!) Sports Illustrated
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Mike Skinner sets his sights on another NASCAR first
Mike Skinner has established a trail of firsts in the NASCAR Craftsman Trucks Series.
He won the first race in series history in 1995. He won the series’ first championship. And he was the first to win $1 million.
Saturday, when Skinner climbs into his Toyota Tundra for the O’Reilly Auto Parts 250 at Kansas Speedway, he’ll try to become the first in series history to win four consecutive races. thatsracin.com
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Ricky Hendrick Memorial Charity Ride set May 6 thatsracin.com
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Hernandez, Carmichael Claim Successful Results for Ginn Racing Development Teams

Ginn Racing development drivers Jesus Hernandez and Ricky Carmichael each enjoyed a successful weekend of racing in their respective divisions.

Hernandez, 26, finished fifth in Thursday night's NASCAR Grand National Division West Series event at Phoenix International Raceway & Carmichael, 27, finished seventh in a 50-lap super late model race Saturday night at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway.
CircleTrackplus.com
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April 29 is Dale Earnhardt's birthday. Happy Birthday Dale.. you are missed by many. With that being said, Go Junior!! Kick their arses!