40 Team shutting down

[south jersey girl]

so, does Dario stay in the Nationwide series, or does he go back to Indy Cars?

from Jayski...
Ganassi's #40 team closes down: hearing that the #40 Chip Ganassi Racing team of Dario Franchitti will skip the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway and has closed the team, supposedly laying off around 70 employees.(7-1-2008)
UPDATE: Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates (CGRFS) announced today that due to a lack of sponsorship funding it will cease operation of the team's #40 Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) Dodge driven by Dario Franchitti beginning this weekend in Daytona. "This is a difficult decision for Felix and I that did not come without its share of anguish," said Team Owner Chip Ganassi. "In this tough business environment continuing to run the car without proper funding has become increasingly difficult." CGRFS is committed to Franchitti's continued stockcar development and are currently in discussions with him on his racing options with the team which could include running the balance of the 2008 Nationwide season in the #40 Fastenal Dodge. Currently the #42 Texaco/Havoline/Juicy Fruit Dodge of Juan Pablo Montoya is 21st in owner points while the #41 Target Dodge driven by Reed Sorenson is sitting 31st in the standings.(CGRFS PR)(7-1-2008

[Busch Babe 899]

Sorry guys, fewer Ashley sightings.  But this doesn't surprise me...sponsors are getting to be like a pot of gold...rumored to be there, but many teams just can't find it. ESPECIALLY with certain series sponsors blocking their competitors out. 

[FSBryan]

Economy or not, Dario's performance on the race track did not warrant sponsorship...that No. 40 team is a disaster right now, and the endless crew chief swapping has hurt the No. 42 team too. Sorenson's been off all season as well, he all but stole his run at Loudon this weekend. Good decision by Ganassi to pull the plug, he needs to get Montoya and Sorenson's teams up to snuff. As for Franchitti, Ganassi has a fully sponsored Nationwide Series ride...and that's where Dario should have been this season. This is the best thing that could happen to Franchitti if he wants to make NASCAR his long-term future...now he'll actually learn stock cars before being thrown to the wolves in Cup.

[scott b]

Times are tough, but there are other teams that are not fully funded that have been outperforming the #40.  David Gilliland might not have much name recognition or a movie star wife, but he has kept his ride in the top 35.  Robby Gordon has done the same as a single car owner/driver operation.  Results should speak louder than hype.

Now it's down to 43 entries running the full Cup schedule.  Time for Morgan Shephard to start building a COCS.

[KurtBuschFan]

I've seen Travis Kvapil run in the Top 15 without a primary sponsor...where was Franchitti then.  I maintain that he should NOT have made the jump directly to the Cup series....but of course that's JMO.

[CodeBlueEMT]

 I knew Ganassi was FOS a few weeks ago on NASCAR Race Day. The FOS detector went off when Chip answered, "That's a really good question" to most questions.

 Shayne

 

[20forLogano]

The open wheel guys know Nascar is where it's at.  Prestige, money, etc.  They want it.  They see the success of the Stewart's and the Montoya's and think they can do it.  Well, there are a few Montoya's and Stewart's in the world