Franchitti's Cup Team Shut Down....

[nadeau01_johnson48]

Can't say it's that big of a shock....he shouldn't have been in the Cup series, anyways, IMO.

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.

[4xchamp24]

bummer for franchitti, would have liked to see what he could have done with a year under his belt

it's a shame that driver subpar drivers like ragan get to keep their rides though

[BowyerFan07]

not a shocker, none of the open wheelers will make it, with the exception of montoya.

[UofLnMU]

A sub-par driver like Ragan? In his second year he's in 14th place in the Cup standings. He doesn't have an open wheel pedigree, but he's doing well in Nationwide. It Jamie McMurray doesn't T-bone him after running into Junior, Ragan could have another top ten.

While he's not quite an upper eschelon driver, he's well into the second tier.

[4xchamp24]

A sub-par driver like Ragan? In his second year he's in 14th place in the Cup standings. He doesn't have an open wheel pedigree, but he's doing well in Nationwide. It Jamie McMurray doesn't T-bone him after running into Junior, Ragan could have another top ten.

While he's not quite an upper eschelon driver, he's well into the second tier.

another top 10? In 55 career starts he only has 7 top 10's in good roush equipment...he reminds me exactly of jason leffler in the 11 fedex car and jj yeley in the 18 interstate batteries car...put another driver in the 6 in the results will increase greatly

[nadeau01_johnson48]

Ragan is 14th in points....Franchitti was like 40th.

That comment is just rediculous. Yea, you're right....Ragan should be fired, while Franchitti should keep his job--so he can race every other race or so he actually makes it in. Good call.

What do you have against Ragan, always talking down on the guy.

[race crazy]

not surprised-I dont think its Darios fault-Ganassis team stinks-Montoyas a good enough driver to make his piece look ok but the team stinks bad. All of the open wheel guys will struggle and will continue to struggle. As for Ragan being a sub par driver-no-as someone said before hes a solid 2nd tier driver-10th to 20th area-idk how long jack will be satisfied with that though. Hes got 3 studs and 2 mid pack drivers. We know the equipment is there-so Im interested to see if Ragan can continue his progression-whoever compared him to Jason Leffler though lol....Leffler still crashes in half the races hes in.

[4xchamp24]

I just wanted franchitti to get a year under his belt and see how things progress

And, I guess I don't really have much against Ragan the driver, he seems like a nice guy, I guess its more the media. In the era of "perform now or leave" he's never been even talked about as needing to step up his performance which aint terrible but could improve considerably considering the equipment he has been given. But what do you expect when Ford is sponsoring the telecast and seems close to the announcers (ford cutaway) and his dad ken is chair of the legends series...can't say anything bad about him or they'll prolly get fined

another year or so in busch would have suited him and the team well to see if he would pan out....he got rushed to cup

Ragan is 14th in points....Franchitti was like 40th.

That comment is just rediculous. Yea, you're right....Ragan should be fired, while Franchitti should keep his job--so he can race every other race or so he actually makes it in. Good call.

What do you have against Ragan, always talking down on the guy.

[StillBig20Fan]

My take...

Any time a car shuts down operation becuase of lack of sponsorship, it's bad for the sport regardless the driver or team.

Franchitti's injury didnt help the situation and even the most talented open wheeler to come to NASCAR - TONY STEWART the 1997 IRL Champion not Montoya spent a year (1998) in what was then the Busch series before coming to cup in 1999.

[dirtydistance]

You can't judge these open wheel guys yet. Put most of Nascar's top guys in a mediocre/crap IRL ride and see how they would do!