Companies will continue to compete against each other in 2015
RELATED: Toyota ‘not sure what MWR is going to do’
Michael Waltrip Racing co-owner Rob Kauffman has agreed to purchase an interest in Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates, according to statements from the two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series organizations.
According to a statement from MWR, the “companies will continue to operate separately and compete against each other for the remainder of the 2015 season. They are also currently evaluating ways to field the most competitive race teams possible to provide an excellent platform for their partners and employees for the 2016 season and beyond.”
How the move will impact the number of teams involved has yet to be determined, although it appears likely that the re-tooled CGR will be a three-team effort in 2016. What that means for co-owner Michael Waltrip and MWR going forward is also unknown at this time.
Sponsorship agreements with Aaron’s and manufacturer support with Toyota are scheduled to conclude at the end of ’15.
“My focus is on 2015 and fulfilling the commitment we have made to our partners and Toyota, which is placing our teams in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup,” Michael Waltrip said in a statement Thursday. “There are a lot of details yet to be sorted regarding 2016. I will work closely with Rob Kauffman and our sponsors to formulate the best way forward.”
Ed Laukes, vice president marketing, performance and guest experience for Toyota Motor Sales, issued a statement Friday morning with a similar sentiment.
“We’ve spoken with Rob Kauffman and understand he has agreed to buy an interest in Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates,” the statement read. “Rob has not disclosed the plans for Michael Waltrip Racing past the 2015 racing season. Toyota and TRD remain focused on winning races and championships with our team partners this year.”
MWR, founded by Waltrip, a two-time Daytona 500 winner as a driver, fields two Sprint Cup teams for drivers Clint Bowyer and David Ragan. It has been affiliated with Toyota since the automaker made the move into Sprint Cup in 2007, the same year Kauffman came aboard to provide financial stability.
Recent years have seen the organization, located in Cornelius, North Carolina, struggle; it downsized from three teams to two following the 2013 season when penalties before the start of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup knocked one of its teams out of the Chase field.
That led to the decision by primary sponsor NAPA to part ways with the organization, and without funding, driver Martin Truex Jr. was left to seek employment elsewhere (Furniture Row Racing).
Bowyer, driver of the No. 15 Toyota, hasn’t been to Victory Lane since his debut season with the group in 2012. He is currently 15th in points and trying to earn one of this year’s 16 Chase berths.
Teammate David Ragan joined the organization this season, replacing Brian Vickers in the No. 55 ride when Vickers had to step aside for health reasons. Ragan is 24th in the points standings. On Wednesday, he told NASCAR.com that he would like to remain with the organization.
“I like everyone at MWR and the Aaron’s folks have been great to work with,” he said. “We’ve got a good thing going so hopefully we can keep it going.”
Aaron’s is the primary sponsor of the No. 55 team.
CGR, which is currently affiliated with Chevrolet, also fields two Sprint Cup teams, featuring drivers Jamie McMurray and Kyle Larson. The organization also has XFINITY Series interests as part of an alliance with HScott Motorsports.
A statement from CGR on Thursday confirmed the agreement between Kauffman and Ganassi.
Both McMurray and Larson are looking to make their first Chase appearance this season; McMurray is ninth in points and likely one of this year’s 16 participants. Larson is currently 20th in points and could qualify should he win one of the next six races.
Sabates, owner of the team from 1989 through 2000 before becoming a minority partner in ’01, issued a statement to SiriusXM NASCAR on Wednesday, saying that the move “is about making our team stronger; a three-car team is stronger than a two-car (team).”
Sabates also discounted reports that Kauffman’s involvement meant he was out as a partner.
“I’m not going anywhere,” Sabates said. “… The rumors that Rob is buying me out are not true.”
Ganassi became majority owner of the team in 2000; he partnered with Dale Earnhardt Inc. from 2009-13 and the organization was known as Earnhardt Ganassi Racing.
Since ’14, the group has been known as Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates.