Ganassi Racing intact after turbulent 2003

The staff of Chip Ganassi Racing Is optimistic for the team's fortunes in the 2004 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series.

Some part of that feeling might be traced back to the fact that in 2003, for the first time in the last three years, the team owner didn't fire one of his drivers.

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The veteran Sterling Marlin opens his seventh season with in the No. 40 Coors Light Dodge, 2003's top rookie Jamie McMurray is back with Ganassi and Casey Mears returns for his second season.

"We've got three guys who get along and all are looking forward to the new season," Ganassi said. "They all have their own particular challenges they're going to be facing in 2004.

"It's a little bit of a calming effect going into the season with the same three guys you went into 2003 with. That's a big help, and I'm looking forward to it."

It's something of a straw everyone is grasping at because, unlike in the 2003 Indy Racing League, where Ganassi Racing won its fifth Indy car championship in the last eight seasons, Ganassi's NASCAR ensemble found precious little in the way of success.

	Chip Ganassi

None of his three full-time NASCAR teams won, and only McMurray's scored a top-five finish -- five of them -- on the driver's way to 13th in the standings.

Marlin's squad finished 18th and Mears' group, 35th.

"Obviously we've got to do a little better job," Ganassi said. "We had a good 2001 and a good 2002, and I think in 2003 we lost our way a bit and we need to get that back.

"We have to get our act together and do a little better job this year than we did last, and that would entail more consistency and being closer to the front."

To do that the teams return with their identical driver and crew chief pairings as they were a year ago.

"We didn't have as much turnover," Ganassi said. "We lost five or six guys, but when you have 100 or so people, that's normal. I feel pretty good about our continuity with (team managers Tony) Glover and Andy (Graves).

"There's certainly speed in continuity."

	Casey Mears

So while optimism reigns coming into Speedweeks 2004 -- bolstered by healthy performances by all three drivers in Preseason Thunder testing at Daytona International Speedway -- everyone knows production had better follow it.

"We're in the racing business and performance is what it's all about," Ganassi said. "We like to think we set the bar a little high, so we do have high expectations.

"The guys at the shop have been working hard over the winter, and I'm looking forward to the new season."

Marlin suffered through off-year in 2003

So are Ganassi's drivers, and with good reason. Marlin is the most optimistic after a season in which he scored 11 top-10 finishes, but for the first time in six years, he failed to score a top-five.

	Sterling Marlin went from championship contender in 2002 to also-ran in 2003. Credit: Autostock

"It was probably the most aggravating season I had in a long, long time," Marlin said of 2003. "We led races and led the points championship in 2002.

"We had high expectations going into last year and things just didn't work out. We made some mistakes and got caught up in other people's mistakes and there wasn't anything we could do about it."

"We need to get Sterling back to his form that he had in the prior year," Ganassi said. "Let's face it, 2003 was not the kind of season we were looking for there.

"We need a little rebound there. We're looking for a little better performance out of the 40 car than last year (but) Sterling is the type of person that forgets things fast, so we're looking forward to this year."

McMurray looks to build on top-15 points finish

McMurray and crew chief Donnie Wingo had the best finish of the three. They reached halfway in the 2003 season 23rd in the standings and scored three top-five and 10 top-10s in the second half.

McMurray also won races in the Busch Series in a cooperative program Ganassi facilitated with owner James Finch, and while that exact program ended McMurray hopes to make some Busch races.

"We made quite a few changes, not trying to keep up with the rest of the teams but trying to get ahead of them," McMurray said. "We're very excited with what the guys at the shop have done over the winter and the changes we made within the team (so) I'm excited to get the season under way."

McMurray said talk of any "sophomore jinx" is ridiculous.

	McMurray was one of the best drivers in the second half in 2003. Credit: Autostock

"I don't feel like there's going to be a problem there, just because we ended on a strong note and the team stayed together," McMurray said. "I think when you get into problems is when people leave (so) I don't see a problem there, but you never know. You've got to have some luck, too."

"I want to see Jamie McMurray's trend continue and if he stays on his trend line, he's going to be just fine," Ganassi said. "Jamie has a lot of energy with his team coming into 2004. We're looking for he and Donnie to make that step into the sophomore season.

"I expect some wins. I think he needs to go the next step, and Jamie's next step is winning two or three (and) something short of that could be defined as not a good year."

"We had ourselves in position to win races and it just didn't work out," McMurray said. "It was there, but we just couldn't close the deal (and) that's something we'll work on this year -- not just trying to be fast but doing what you have to do to try to win the race."

'It's time for him (Mears) to step up'

Mears had the most aggressive schedule, racing in Cup, Busch and the ARCA Series, where he won three times.

"I think last year was really valuable getting all that seat time," Mears said. "We noticed a big difference when I started running Busch races and ARCA races. We're working on trying to put together some Busch stuff this year as well.

	Mears qualified well all season during his rookie year, but a penchant for DNFs keep him from finishing higher in the points. Credit: Autostock

"I want to be as consistent as I can this season and I think we can finish in the top-10 and top-15. We had that potential last year. My third race was my best finish last year (and) I didn't know what I was doing.

"I've learned a lot and I know what I'm getting into this year. I think a top-10 or top-15 is realistic for us this year."

"Casey needs to keep coming along -- it's time for him to step up," Ganassi said. "This is going to be kind of, I don't want to say a do-or-die year for him, but it's going to be an important year for his career.

"We had Casey in a lot of different cars last year, and we're looking for things to start coming together for him this year. We're looking for him to be in the top-20 this year -- that's a fact.

"We've done the training and it's time to put up."

Marlin spoke for all three teams when he summed up the mood heading into February.

"You've got to be on your A game every weekend now (because) NASCAR has got everything pretty close," he said. "All I know is we'll just roll up our sleeves and work harder."

Ganassi agrees.

"This (NASCAR) is a little more challenging, maybe because I was in open wheel racing for so long," Ganassi said. "I enjoy 'em both. There is a lot more depth here.

"There are a lot more good teams, so it's a challenge I accept. I'm not going to turn my back on it."