Post by dalejrfan on Jun 19, 2005 16:30:22 GMT -5
BROOKLYN, Mich. - David Stremme celebrated his 28th birthday on Sunday by being officially named to drive the No. 40 Dodges for Chip Ganassi Racing beginning with the 2006 season. Coors and Lone Star steakhouses will each serve as primary sponsor for 17 races.
"It is an honor to drive this car," said Stremme, who has been in a driver development deal with the team since 2002. He will finish the 2005 season in Busch Series and also plans to make four Nextel Cup starts in a fourth Ganassi Dodge - at Chicago, Charlotte, Richmond and Homestead.
Sterling Marlin will complete this year in the No. 40. Team owner Chip Ganassi said that Marlin has been offered what he called a "personal services contract well into six figures" to serve as an "ambassador" with the team for next year and beyond. But Marlin said again Sunday he's looking for another Cup ride for next year.
Ganassi fended off questions about Casey Mears' future in the No. 41 Dodges.
"You're always evaluating everybody on your team and not just the drivers," Ganassi said. "Casey has done a great job...but he's in the third year of his career and we were hoping for a little bit more performance.
...I talked to Casey the other day and said, 'Hey, I have a plan and you're in it.' That's what's going on right now. But is it nailed, nailed, nailed? No."
Ganassi said it's not out of the question he could run four teams next year, adding Reed Sorensen to the mix in a fourth car while keeping Stremme, Mears and Jamie McMurray."
"It is an honor to drive this car," said Stremme, who has been in a driver development deal with the team since 2002. He will finish the 2005 season in Busch Series and also plans to make four Nextel Cup starts in a fourth Ganassi Dodge - at Chicago, Charlotte, Richmond and Homestead.
Sterling Marlin will complete this year in the No. 40. Team owner Chip Ganassi said that Marlin has been offered what he called a "personal services contract well into six figures" to serve as an "ambassador" with the team for next year and beyond. But Marlin said again Sunday he's looking for another Cup ride for next year.
Ganassi fended off questions about Casey Mears' future in the No. 41 Dodges.
"You're always evaluating everybody on your team and not just the drivers," Ganassi said. "Casey has done a great job...but he's in the third year of his career and we were hoping for a little bit more performance.
...I talked to Casey the other day and said, 'Hey, I have a plan and you're in it.' That's what's going on right now. But is it nailed, nailed, nailed? No."
Ganassi said it's not out of the question he could run four teams next year, adding Reed Sorensen to the mix in a fourth car while keeping Stremme, Mears and Jamie McMurray."