Latest round of mergers more debacle than success (cont'd)

He can drive the No. 10 car out of the GEM stable, but it placed 37th in owner's points last season -- meaning he might have to qualify on speed to get into the first five races in '09. Plus he's guaranteed only eight tries at that unless additional sponsorship can be lined up.

The organization and Sadler both released statements in the aftermath of the fiasco claiming that they remain one big, happy family that merely had a disagreement. But do you think Sadler will be happily sharing much information with Allmendinger when they're together at the track this season? Should he, knowing Allmendinger nearly took his job and might still be in position to do so if GEM lawyers find a way to make it legally work?

Sadler soap opera

• Allmendinger in, Sadler out
• Sadler plans to sue GEM
• GEM says Sadler in No. 19
• Breeze: Merit to Sadler release

And also, how about the mindset of Sadler and the No. 19 team after all this has been aired in public? Think they'll be in the right frame of mind and truly on the same page heading into the Daytona 500 in a month?

Frankly, it's a mess. Ray Evernham, who originally founded the organization but sold majority interest in it to George Gillett two summers ago, is a smart man to say that he more or less is walking away from the so-called new joint venture.

And while we're at it, who thinks Reed Sorenson is a good selection to drive the No. 43 that Richard Petty made famous? The guy who once failed to show up for a primary sponsor's big shindig, one attended by none other than his own car owner, is supposed to step into the 43 and represent all that is right and good about NASCAR?

I'm not feeling it on about 43 different levels.

And another thing ...

Speaking of Sorenson's former car owner, what the heck is going on at Earnhardt Ganassi Racing? Supposedly the former Dale Earnhardt Inc. and Chip Ganassi Racing operations merged to make each other stronger. Supposedly they will field four full-time Cup teams in 2009.

But now it's '09 on the calendar and much uncertainty swirls around the new, combined organization.

Martin Truex Jr. in the No. 1 Chevrolet is the only driver whose team has secured full sponsorship for the upcoming season. Aric Almirola is ready to roll in the No. 8 car, but has no primary sponsorship as yet. Juan Montoya is set to pilot the No. 42 car, but has only half his season covered by sponsorship green.

That leaves the No. 41 that used to be driven by Sorenson (and pretty poorly at that) lurking out there without a driver or a full-time sponsor. Although Bobby Labonte, the former driver of the No. 43 for Petty, has long been rumored as the top candidate for the 41, you have to wonder if the so-called Earnhardt Ganassi Racing will even be able to field a full-time fourth team as they previously projected.

Mergers are supposed to leave those involved stronger than they were when they stood alone. But it doesn't appear to be unfolding that way, at least not yet, for either GEM or Earnhardt Ganassi.

As the 2009 season inches closer and more uncertainty looms ahead for everyone involved, one gets the sinking feeling that Merger Mania looks a whole lot more romantic on paper than it does in reality.

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer.

Related: Earnhardt Ganassi committed to four-car team in '09