Dale Earnhardt Inc., Ginn Racing complete merger

A little more than two months ago, fledgling but ambitious Nextel Cup team owner Bobby Ginn made a public play to add driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. On Wednesday, Earnhardt Jr.'s organization added Ginn.

Dale Earnhardt Inc. absorbed Ginn Racing, creating a four-car operation that will compete under the DEI banner this weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Effective immediately, DEI drivers Earnhardt Jr. and Martin Truex Jr. will be joined by Mark Martin and Aric Almirola, who will split the remainder of this year in the No. 01 car. DEI driver Paul Menard will inherit the owner points of former Ginn driver Sterling Marlin, whose car was inside the top 35, while the No. 13 formerly piloted by Ginn driver Joe Nemechek will be eliminated.

Army of one

The No. 01 U.S. Army car will be the only one of three Ginn Racing started out with this season on the track this weekend at Indy, following a restructuring of the team.

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"This merger is great for both companies," DEI president Max Siegel said in a statement. "Our stated goals included an expansion to four cars as quickly as possible and, in order to do that, we had to acquire more shop space. This relationship with Bobby Ginn and his company allows us to accomplish both, which makes this a perfect transaction."

The team will operate from both the DEI shop in Mooresville, N.C., and the 180,000-square-foot-facility housing the Ginn organization. The two buildings are less than five miles apart. DEI will also acquire Ginn's seven-post machine. John Story, DEI's vice president of motorsports operations, will oversee the expansion efforts.

"The combined resources of the companies are tremendous," Story said. "Ginn Racing just completed the installation of a seven-post rig. With our recently formed R&D team, as well as the combined efforts of two strong engineering programs, we will be able to accelerate our learning curve. Both companies have many smart and talented people. All of our teams will undoubtedly become stronger."

Regan Smith, who had been splitting the No. 01 with Martin, was scheduled to move into the No. 14 car full-time beginning this week. Instead, he will compete in a Craftsman Truck Series race at O'Reilly Raceway Park. The full schedules for Smith, Martin and Almirola will be determined later. The company will also continue to field entries on NASCAR's Busch and Busch East circuits, the latter where Ginn developmental driver Jesus Hernandez, a Drive for Diversity graduate, competes.

Ginn also fields late models for Ricky Carmichael, the motocross champion attempting to make the transition to stock cars. NASCAR.COM has learned that Martin will continue to aid Carmichael's development, and that his stock-car schedule will be increased beginning this weekend with events Friday at Orlando, Fla., and Saturday at New Smyrna Beach, Fla. Sponsor Monster Energy will remain on Carmichael's car. (Continued)