Track Smack: Merging, Chasing and laying bricks

What do you make of the Ginn/DEI merger -- for both parties in the short term and for their suddenly joint future?

Joe Menzer: I guess it shouldn't have caught me by surprise, but it sure did. Despite Ginn Racing's obvious recent troubles, I thought they just tried to do too much, too quickly and that they would eventually right themselves and move forward on their own. I was wrong.

David Caraviello: Bobby Ginn did what any good developer does -- he bought a property and flipped it. It seems like a good deal for DEI, which suddenly has a lot of brand-new equipment and Mark Martin. But it smacks of Ginn being in over his head, and needing a way out.

Duane Cross: The merger makes a lot of sense, if your name is Bobby Ginn. He got in over his head and had to do something -- and merging with DEI isn't the worst-case scenario for any team. In fact, it's probably the best thing that could happen to his drivers.

Joe Menzer: Not if your drivers were named Sterling Marlin, Joe Nemechek -- or, apparently, Regan Smith. I guess I never should have believed Bobby when he spouted all that stuff about having a five-year plan and being in it for the long haul -- which he said only six months ago!

David Caraviello: Hey, six months in the real estate business seems like five years.

Joe Menzer: Well, he might have believed all of that himself six months ago. But racin' ain't real estate!

David Caraviello: Remember that scene on the media tour, Joe? How they were going to spend all this money and expand? Buying all the airplanes and the seven-post shaker rig?

Duane Cross: If it were, my man Richard Davis would be leading the points! (I love his A&E show.) But this also goes to an issue that will continue to fester in the sport: You must be part of a larger operation if you want to succeed. And despite having three cars, Bobby was, it turns out, a one-car operation.

David Caraviello: But Duane, does any of this happen if Ginn finds sponsorship for the 13 and 14 cars? True, all appearances are that Bobby bit off more than he could chew. But if sponsors materialize for his other two cars, maybe Ginn Racing still exists.

Joe Menzer: Yep. Mark Martin kept saying that Ginn Racing would be remembered as the Little Operation That Could -- but in the end, they couldn't. And the end came mighty quickly.

David Caraviello: Joe, if Mark Martin could carry an under-funded operation like Ginn, he'll do fine under the DEI banner.

Duane Cross: That's just it -- Ginn couldn't do it. Whose fault is that? Not for me to say, but it seems there are a lot of big-time teams that have "associate" sponsors just because they're Mr. Big Shot Team ... when they could be a primary on another organization's hood.

David Caraviello: Exactly. It's like sponsors would rather be on Kyle Busch's car for 10 races than be on Joe Nemechek's car for 36.

Duane Cross: It's a no-win situation for these small-time teams that are / were perceived to be big-timers.

David Caraviello: Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Mark Martin are suddenly teammates. There's a win-win situation.

Joe Menzer: What I want to know next is what happens to poor Regan Smith -- not to mention Ginn developmental guys like Jesus Hernandez, Kraig Kinser and Ricky Carmichael?

Duane Cross: Mark Martin will now be driving an RCR-powered car ... reckon he'd like to have been in that position in February?

Joe Menzer: I don't know. I think this has the looks of a mess for the remainder of this season. Truex and Junior will continue to run well, but after that, I wonder?

Duane Cross: Don't be too quick to toss Junior in there; he's still gotta drive it like he stole it to fend off Ryan Newman & Co. who are charging toward No. 12. Meanwhile, Aric Almirola must be loving life right now. On the other hand, Regan Smith ... not so much, Joe.

Joe Menzer: Regan Smith appears, at least at the moment, to be the odd man out. Which is unfortunate for him. You have to feel for him.

David Caraviello: And Ricky Carmichael, who sank his future into an organization that no longer exists.

Joe Menzer: Although I've got to believe that the new hybrid organization will continue to work with him. He's a marketing dream, and apparently has some ability that should transfer from Motocross to, eventually, with hard work and a little luck and if teams don't keep folding from underneath him, Nextel Cup.

Duane Cross: It's a good time to be involved in NASCAR's "Golden Age." ... And here's your pink slip.

Joe Menzer: You're not talking to US, are you, Duane?

Duane Cross: Ha! No, just channeling Jay Frye during his sit-down with Regan, who did get five nights and four days at one of Ginn's resorts, free of charge. (Continued)