Earnhardt Ganassi drivers in the dark about future

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Earnhardt Ganassi Racing may have four Sprint Cup teams at Daytona's Speedweeks 2009 in three weeks, or it may have three. A week later, it may be down to two.

It was hard to get a straight answer out of two of the organization's drivers who were at Daytona International Speedway Friday evening for the opening of the two-day Preseason Thunder Fan Fest -- but it was just as obvious Aric Almirola and Martin Truex Jr. were the worst people to ask.

Merger mess

Two of the more visible team mergers have not brought stability. Instead, questions, uncertainty and controversy linger, writes Joe Menzer.

• Complete story, click here
• Teams turn to each other
• Almirola: EGR will run four
• Drivers vary on new EGR
• DEI, Ganassi to merge

Team president Steve Lauletta was on vacation, according to a team representative, and was unavailable; so it was left for the two young drivers to take the heat.

"If I could only tell you [how confusing the last 10 days have been]," Almirola said through a rueful grin. "It's confusing, it's exciting -- it's everything all at once. It's been a basket case of emotions, that's for sure."

One thing it hasn't been is definitive. Last year, Almirola split the 36-race season in Dale Earnhardt Incorporated's No. 8 Chevrolet, running 12 races while Mark Martin ran the balance of the schedule. The pair put the car 14th in the owner standings.

In the offseason, DEI merged with Chip Ganassi Racing to form EGR. In the aftermath of that, chaos reigns via a lack of full sponsorship that's created doubt about whether or not the organization can field the four Chevrolets it planned to run, numbered 1 (for Truex), 8 (Almirola), 41 (driver TBA) and 42 (Juan Montoya).

Rumors circulating around Charlotte, N.C., on Friday had the 41 team shut down and nearly 80 employees laid off as of next Monday. Almirola said he'd just returned from a ski trip and knew nothing of that. But on speaking further he seemed certain of virtually little else.

"That [shutdown and layoffs] I'm not sure of," Almirola said. "As far as I know, we're still planning on running four cars. I think that they'll look at their financial situation and see whatever they have to do to make that all work out for them. Sorry I can't answer your question, but the honest answer is 'I don't know.'"

Truex, who apparently had stayed closer to home, seemed on track about the number of cars EGR would have at Speedweeks until he too, wavered.

"As far as I can tell, I believe three -- I'm pretty sure that's what's going on," Truex said. "If it changes, don't hold me to this -- but as far as I know, it'll be three. Yeah: The 1, the 42 and the 8. I believe that's it. That's about all I've got, there -- Montoya, me and Aric." (Continued)