McDonald's is scheduled to be the primary sponsor for the following 13+ races in 2013:
Daytona - 2/24
Phoenix - 3/3
Las Vegas - 3/10
Kansas - 4/21
Talladega - 5/5
TBA

Cessna / Bell Helicopter / E-Z-GO is scheduled to be the sponsor of the #1 for the following 10 races in 2013:
Bristol - 3/17 (Cessna)
Texas - 4/13 (Bell Helicopter)
the rest TBA

Bass Pro Shops is scheduled to be the sponsor of the #1 for the following two races in 2013:
Auto Club - 3/24
one more race TBA

LiftMaster is scheduled to be the sponsor of the #1 for the following race in 2013:
Dover - 9/29

Race With Insulin is scheduled to be the sponsor of the #1 for the following race in 2013:
Martinsville - 4/7

Banana Boat is scheduled to be the sponsor of the #1 for the following race in 2013:
TBA

Contract Status: Driver: 2013+?; Sponsors: Bass Pro 2013; McDonald's 2013; LiftMaster 2013

Crew chief Kevin Manion fight with gout: There's a reason why flip-flops are Kevin "Bono" Manion's favorite shoes. There's a reason why the crew chief of Jamie McMurray's #1 Earnhardt Ganassi Racing Chevrolet would cut holes in the toes of his work shoes before venturing into the NASCAR Sprint Cup garage. Manion, 40, has suffered from gout for the past 10 years, and lately he's also been fighting the mistaken perception that gout afflicts elderly persons who drink too much alcohol. At age 30, Manion began to suffer the symptoms of gout, a severe form of arthritis caused by high uric acid levels. At times, the pain was unbearable. "I've broken some bones, I've stubbed my toe, I've cut myself wide open and had plenty of stitches," Manion told the NASCAR Wire Service during an interview in the #1 team's transporter on Friday. "I've had my front teeth replaced, but (gout) is the most painful. You know when you've got it. There's no question. Literally trying to sleep at night, you're fine unless you have to put a cover on, because a bed sheet will make you scream like a baby. That's how painful it is. There's no thought of putting a sock on. I basically have cut the big toe out of my shoe so my toe wouldn't touch anything at a track over a weekend."
Manion may have known he had goutdespite one early misdiagnosis as turf toebut he was reluctant to acknowledge it because of the stigma associated with a disease that afflicts eight million Americans. "For two years, I was just stubborn more than anything, a guy that (said), 'Surely it wasn't goutit couldn't be,' being my age of around 30," Manion said. "I always heard (gout afflicts) old people that drink a lot of liquor, and I don't do that. Occasionally, I'll have a beer or two, but I'm not the guy that drank too much or ate too much red meat. I'm not that old guy&You always hear, and I've heard it before, 'Oh, he's got the gouthe's a drunk.' By no means did I ever think that was what it was. I just thought I had sprained my toe. I heard it was turf toe from one doctor. Finally, it hurt so badand I honestly thought it was broken, that's how bad it hurtand the doctor said, 'No, if you broke your foot, it wouldn't hurt that bad; what you have is gout.'"
At this point, Manion has done more than just accept the reality of the disease. He is working with Takeda Pharmaceuticals to heighten awareness of the disorder and to alter the conventional wisdom about its nature and causes. "Simply, it's just a severe form of arthritis," Manion said. "If you say you have arthritis, people don't look at you funny. When you say you have the gout, people kind of look at you funny. It's the same thing. It's just a form of arthritis. The only thing I can recommend is to go to your local physician and get on a plan to manage it." Manion also encourages gout sufferers, and those who think they might have it, to visit www.gout.com, a web site that provides comprehensive information about the condition.(NASCAR Wire Service)(5-19-2013)

McMurray dominates the Sprint Showdown: #1-Jamie McMurray won the Sprint Showdown Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, leading all 40 laps to transfer to the Sprint All-Star race. #17-Stenhouse Jr. finished 2nd and will also transfer to the All-Star race. #31-Burton finished 3rd followed by #27-Menard, #56-Truex Jr., #42-Montoya, #43-Almirola, #93-Kvapil, #10-Patrick and #13-Mears. After segment 1, #13-Mears was the only driver not to pit and started segment 2 first, but McMurray quickly retook the lead as his team changed two tires and he came out to start segment 2 second. #42-Montoya sped on pit road and started segment 2 from the rear. After the Sprint Showdown was over, NASCAR called #56-Truex Jr., #47-Labonte and #10-Patrick to staging area after the race. It will be one of those three as the Fan vote winner.
Fan Vote Winner: it was announced that #10-Danica Patrick won the fan vote and will race in the Sprint All-Star race.
See results for each segment on Jayski's Sprint All-Star Race Info page.(5-18-2013)

McMurray to run Bass Pros Shops scheme in Showdown:
Bass Pro Shops will salute the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) this weekend at the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race [Sprint Showdown] with a special NWTF paint scheme on the #1 Chevy SS of Jamie McMurray. Through vital partnerships with state, federal and provincial wildlife agencies, the NWTF and its members have helped restore wild turkey populations throughout North America, spending more than $412 million to conserve nearly 17.2 million acres of habitat. The NWTF is a national nonprofit organization that is the leader in upland wildlife habitat conservation in North America. Founded in 1973, the NWTF is headquartered in Edgefield, S.C., and has local chapters in all 50 states and Canada.(EGR), see an image of the scheme on the #1 Team Schemes page.
#14-Tony Stewart is also running a Bass Pro Shops / NWTF scheme in the All-Star race, see an image of that scheme on the #14 Team Schemes page.(5-16-2013)

VIZIO and Hulu join Chip Ganassi Racing for Memorial Day weekend: Chip Ganassi Racing Teams announced new sponsorships with VIZIO and Hulu which will see the brands carried on two of racings' biggest stages on Memorial Day Weekend at the Indianapolis 500 and Coca Cola 600. The programs include major associate level branding on both Ryan Briscoe's #8 NTT DATA Honda in the IZOD IndyCar Series for the 97th Running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and on Jamie McMurray's #1 McDonald's/Cessna Chevy SS in the Sprint Cup Series for the Coca Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 26. The sponsors will also see primary branding on CGRT development driver Kyle Larson's #32 Chevy Camaro for the NASCAR Nationwide History 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway May 25, giving VIZIO and Hulu Plus 1,400 miles of great racing during one of the most watched racing weekends of the year.(Ganassi PR)(4-26-2013)

Chip Ganassi selling to John Menard? UPDATE: One of the hottest stories in the garage Thursday was intense speculation that veteran team owner Chip Ganassi may be considering selling his two-team NASCAR operation to John Menard. Menard, who owns the Midwestern home improvement chain Menards, is a long-time racer, and he is currently sponsoring his son Paul's NASCAR team, part of the Richard Childress organization. Ganassi and Childress are both Chevy men. Childress supplied Ganassi's two teams (with #1-Jamie McMurray and #42-Juan Pablo Montoya) with engines until this season, when Ganassi switched to Hendrick motors. Of the sport's top eight team owners, Ganassi this season ranks seventh in finishes. Of particular disappointment is Montoya, who is averaging a 27th place finish; Montoya's last top-10 was at Michigan last June, and his last tour win was at Watkins Glen in the summer of 2010. McMurray's seventh at Martinsville last weekend was his best finish in over a year.(MikeMulhern.net)(4-12-2013)
UPDATE: Don't put too much stock in John Menard to buy Ganassi team rumors. Ganassi likes competing in various series and his NASCAR teams are showing a little improvement in recent weeks. That's not to say that Paul Menard couldn't end up taking his sponsorship to Ganassi, but he could pick other stronger operations to bring his money.(Sporting News)(4-15-2013)

Bell Helicopters sponsoring McMurray: Bell Helicopter will be featured as the primary sponsor on the #1 Chevy SS this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway. Founded in 1935 as Bell Aircraft Corporation, Bell Helicopter sets the pace for the industry and expands the scope of vertical lift. An industry leader with unmatched name recognition, Bell Helicopter was the first to obtain certification for a commercial helicopter. Over its rich history, Bell Helicopter has delivered more than 35,000 aircraft to customers around the world. Headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, Bell Helicopter has additional plants in Amarillo, Texas and Mirabel, Canada, with key logistics supply and service centers in Europe, Canada, and Singapore as well as in the United States.(Earnhardt Ganassi Racing)(4-11-2013)

Ganassi not rushing Larson: Kyle Larson, who has been praised as a potential superstar by Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart and Kasey Kahne, is back to work crisscrossing the country racing anywhere he can during a long break in NASCAR's second-tier Nationwide Series. He spent last weekend at home in California racing at Antioch and Calistoga in Outlaws and 360 sprints, was back in North Carolina to run his kart at MMX on Wednesday, then was off again Thursday to Sacramento to repeat last week's schedule at Antioch and Calistoga again. Next week it's back to MMX for karting and then on to Texas Motor Speedway to resume racing in the Nationwide Series. So far, team owner Chip Ganassi hasn't been disappointed. But Ganassi is being cautious. It is early, after all, and Larson has just five races with Turner Scott Motorsports under his belt. Just how long Ganassi actually allows Larson to be a kid is another question. He holds options for next year on both #1-Jamie McMurray and #42-Juan Pablo Montoya, who sit 16th and 30th in the Sprint Cup standings right now. His loyalty to Montoya is unquestioned, but he's admittedly frustrated that the results still aren't there as the duo heads into their seventh season together in NASCAR. If Ganassi has something already in mind for Larson as a potential replacement to one of his Cup drivers he isn't saying. He initially joked there was no firm plan for Larson, "we just, every Monday morning, we just throw a dart at the board," before getting serious about the importance of going slow with his young driver.(Associated Press)(4-5-2013)

Race with Insulin on the #1 at Martinsville: The #1 team will sport a different paint scheme this weekend with a predominately orange Chevy SS with touches of blue in support of "Race with Insulin". In addition to this special paint scheme on McMurray`s car, teammate Juan Pablo Montoya and his #42 Target Chevy SS will sport blue rims to help with the launch of the Race with Insulin Unites campaign. The blue rims are representation of the blue circle, which is the International Diabetes Federation's (IDF) global symbol for diabetes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 26 million people are currently living with diabetes in the United States.(Earnhardt-Ganassi), see an image of the car on the #1 team paint schemes page.(4-3-2013)

Bass Pro Sports returns to the #1 car: Bass Pro Shops will make their first appearance of the season on the #1 Chevy of Jamie McMurray. The Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats paint scheme on the #1 at Auto Club Speedway will be the first of two races in 2013 (EGR), see my #1 Team Schemes page for images of the car.(3-20-2013)

Cessna makes first appearance with McMurray: Cessna will make their primary sponsorship debut on the #1 Chevy SS at Bristol this weekend. This will be the first of multiple races for Cessna and the #1 team in 2013. Cessna announced a multiyear Partnership with Chip Ganassi Racing Teams in January. Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron, Inc. company, will sponsor the cars in all three series in which CGRT competes. Sharing assets with sister Textron companies Bell Helicopter and E-Z-GO golf carts which will come later throughout the season.(Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing), see an image ofthe car on the #1 team paint schemes page.(3-13-2013)

EGR spends day at Fort Bragg: EGR over-the-wall pit crew members recently spent a day at Ft. Bragg (Jan 17), for a morale and team-building event with soldiers from the US Army. Activities included flying several different types of Army helicopter simulators including the Apache, Black Hawk and Chinook trainers. The team also joined US Army soldiers at the Virtual Training Facility (VTF), and learned first-hand how the Army utilizes the high-tech training equipment to prepare men and women in the US Army for combat situations by simulating conditions in areas of deployment. The final event of the day allowed the EGR crew to give back to the Ft. Bragg soldiers by hosting a pit crew competition for 10 different Ft. Bragg units. The winning team of soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, completed their four-tire change in 28.93 seconds. They will have their unit insignia placed in both the #1 and #42 Chevys at the season-opening Daytona 500.(EGR)(2-21-2013)

Congrats - Jamie McMurray: #1-Jamie McMurray and wife Christy recently celebrated the birth of their second child. McMurray's and son Carter welcomed Hazel Leigh McMurray into the family on Monday February 11. Hazel weighed in at 6 pounds 15 ounces, mom and baby are doing great, and will be watching from home as dad makes his first start of the 2013 season.(EGR)(2-29-2013)

McMurray to carry "Race With Insulin" colors at Martinsville: Chip Ganassi Racing Teams (CGRT) and partner Novo Nordisk, a world leader in diabetes care, announced that their IZOD IndyCar Series driver, Charlie Kimball (#83 Novo Nordisk Honda), of the Race with Insulin program, has gained the support of his fellow CGRT teammates across NASCAR, INDYCAR and GRAND-AM, combining for a Race with Insulin Unites initiative.
During the weekend of April 5-7, CGRT NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) teammate Jamie McMurray (#1 Chevy SS) and Kimball will both sport Race with Insulin paint schemes at Martinsville Speedway and Barber Motorsports Park, respectively, to show that with the right management plan and "team" support, people with diabetes can start to get their diabetes on track. In addition to the special paint schemes #42-Juan Pablo Montoya's Chevy will run blue tire rims to help launch the Race with Insulin Unites campaign. The rims will emulate a blue circle, which is the International Diabetes Federation's (IDF) global symbol for diabetes, to support Kimball's quest to educate more people about diabetes. "If our team can help others understand that even with diabetes, you can live life to the fullest, then we are glad to help," said Team Owner Chip Ganassi. "Charlie is an emerging talent in the race car, and he is an even better human being. A program like this speaks volumes about him."
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 26 million people are currently living with diabetes in the United States 2011 National Diabetes Fact Sheet. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site. http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/pubs/pdf/ndfs_2011.pdf. Accessed February 13, 2013. For many patients and their families, diabetes management can be daunting. "Diabetes is one of the greatest health threats of our time," said President, International Diabetes Federation, Sir Michael Hirst. "With the support of such programs, we can begin to tackle a disease which is expected to affect 552 million people around the world by the year 2030." Now in his third season with Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing, Kimball was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes during a routine physician's visit in 2007 while racing in Europe. Kimball returned to the F3 Euroseries in April 2008 and finished second in his first race back after the diagnosis. Determined to get back on the track, Kimball strategized with his doctor to create some innovative solutions for keeping him safe and healthy in and out of the race car. Along with diet and exercise, Charlie uses a pre-filled insulin pen and a continuous glucose monitor to ensure that his diabetes is properly managed, so that when he gets in the car, he can focus on racing. "I am able to live my dream and compete in the IZOD IndyCar Series because I have been fortunate to have the support of Novo Nordisk and my teammates, who are extensions of my on-track pit crew," said Kimball, who recently became an IDF Blue Circle Champion for diabetes. "Follow me at @racewithinsulin to learn how you can enter to win a chance this year to become my honorary pit crew member." Visit www.RaceWithInsulin.com for more information.(CGRT), see images of the scheme on the #1 Team Schemes page.(2-15-2013)

Ganassi team wins Rolex 24 At Daytona: Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates was clearly the team to beat throughout the 51st running of the Rolex 24 At Daytona. A couple teams, however, came close to doing just that over the final few hours of the twice-around-the-clock race around the 3.56-mile Daytona International Speedway road course. In the end, however, the #01 TELMEX/Target BMW/Riley team of Scott Pruett, Memo Rojas, Juan Pablo Montoya and Charlie Kimball gave CGRFS its fifth victory in 10 attempts at the Rolex 24. In the process, Pruett joined Hurley Haywood  who served as the event's grand marshal  as the only drivers to claim five overall Rolex 24 victories. Finishng 2nd was Max Angelelli/Jordan Taylor/Ryan Hunter-Reay and 3rd was John Pew/Ozz Negri/AJ Allmendinger/Justin Wilson/Marcos Ambrose. Other NASCAR drivers finishes: Nelson Piquet Jr. was 8th overall, 8th in class(DP); Clint Bowyer and Michael Waltrip were 18th, 8th(GT); Boris Said was 28th, 18th; Max Papis was 31st, 21st; Jamie McMurray 37th, 11th; Former NASCAR driver David Donohue was part of a team that won the GX Class.(more at Grand-Am.com)(1-28-2013)

Cessna to sponsor McMurray in 2013: It was announced at Earnhardt Ganassi Racing shop / hanger during the NASCAR Sprint Media Tour that Jamie McMurray would have primary sponsorship for ten races by Cessna in 2013. Bass Pro Shops will also return in 2013, but for two races. See images of the Cessna scheme on my #1 Team Schemes page.
UPDATE: Chip Ganassi Racing Teams (CGRT) announces a multi-year partnership with Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron, Inc. company, to sponsor cars across all three series in which CGRT competes. The world's leading general aviation company will sponsor multiple races [10] on the #1 Chevy SS of Jamie McMurray in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) sharing assets with sister Textron companies Bell Helicopter and E-Z-GO golf carts. Each of Textron's brands can be and often are, incorporated into every race event where CGRT competes. From a team's air travel to and from the host city, helicopter transport from airport to venue and ground transportation onsite, Cessna and Textron have options for all of it. The partnership offers a new connection to an industry that relies heavily on private aircraft travel.
· About the Partnership: In addition to the full primary sponsorships, a Textron brand will have placement on every team, race car, driver uniform and transporter, across all of CGRT's diverse reach of racing assets. Those assets including each of the seven full-time drivers; NSCS drivers McMurray and Juan Pablo Montoya, IZOD IndyCar Series drivers Franchitti, Scott Dixon and Charlie Kimball and GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series drivers Pruett and Rojas.
Scott Ernest, Cessna's President and CEO: "We have been impressed with CGRT's scope and success across all components of racing and are partnering to demonstrate how closely the concepts of speed, precision and performance bridge both the aviation and racing industries. Just like CGRT, Cessna is a demonstrated leader and is in the market to win."
Chip Ganassi, Owner, Chip Ganassi Racing Teams: "I am very pleased about this partnership with Cessna and Textron. It is always significant when big brands choose auto racing as a vehicle to market their products and Cessna is not only choosing NASCAR but also INDYCAR and GRAND-AM as well and we couldn't be happier. Their products are vitally important to me. I have used their airplanes for a number of years and their performance is second to none and that is the same level of performance that we expect from our race teams."
Jamie McMurray, Driver, #1 Chevrolet: "I am really excited to have Cessna come on board with our team. I know that speed is an important part of their business, just like ours. We have a lot of excitement with the upcoming season and the new Gen 6 race cars. I am ready to get the 2013 season started, and I am looking forward to Cessna being a part of our entire organization."(EGR)(1-23-2013)

Earnhardt Ganassi Racing Notes from the NASCAR Sprint Media Tour: EGR announced a new partnership with Cessna.
Cessna wil be the priamry sponsor for #1-Jamie McMurray in 10 races in 2013 and will be displayed across all Ganassi's racing platforms.
McDonald's and Dr. Pepper also will be on McMurray's #1 Chevy.
Bass Pro Shops, which joins #14-Tony Stewart in 2013, will remain the primary sponsor on McMurray's #1 for two races this season.
The #1 has just four races where McMurray is not sponsored.
All seven Ganassi drivers will race in the Rolex 24 at Daytona.
Chip Ganassi says Kyle Larson is testing today. Announcements on Larson are forthcoming / Next week.(from many Twitter reports/feeds)(1-23-2013)

Larson to NNS in 2013 and some Cup races? Earnhardt Ganassi Racing development driver, Kyle Larson said he was going back to Charlotte on Sunday to find out what [team owner Chip] Ganassi has planned for him this season but it's believed he'll be driving a Target car full-time in Nationwide with a few Cup [#41?] races thrown in at the end of the year.(Robin Miller/SPEED)(1-15-2013)

2013 silly season notes for #1-Jamie McMurray / Earnhardt Ganassi Racing:: McMurray signed a contract extension with Earnhardt Ganassi Racing for 2013, no word if it is long-term or just for 2013. Longtime #1 sponsor, Bass Pro Shops, will move to #14-Tony Stewart's Chevy, but supposedly sponsor the #1 for a race in 2013. McDonald's will be the primary sponsor for the more then the 13 races they sponsored in 2012. Liftmaster [was the sponsor in Sept NHMS race] and Bass Pro Shops are scheduled to be primary sponsor each for a race. The team will switch from Earnhardt-Childress Racing engines to running engines leased from Hendrick Motorsports. Crew Chief Kevin "Bono" Manion is signed thru at least 2013. No word if Belkin [was sponsor in Sept NHMS race] or Banana Boat [was sponsor in June Pocono race] return to sponsor a race as they did in 2012 or if AllState Insurance returns as a co-sponsor. See more about other teams on my 2013 Team / Driver Silly Season Chart.(12-28-2012)

Montoya, McMurray running Rolex 24: Six-time and reigning GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series Champions (2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012) Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates (CGRFS) announced its driver line-up for the Rolex 24 At Daytona. Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas will again run a two-car effort for the 51st running of the prestigious Rolex 24 At Daytona, featuring eight drivers representing some of the best talent the motor racing world has to offer. Pruett and Rojas will unite with Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates NASCAR teammate Juan Pablo Montoya and Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing INDYCAR teammate Charlie Kimball to form the lineup in the #01 TELMEX/Target Dinan-Prepared BMW, while Team Target Indy car pilots Scott Dixon and Dario Franchitti join EGR teammate Jamie McMurray and sports car racing talent Joey Hand in the #02 Target/TELMEX Dinan-Prepared BMW.(Chip Ganassi with Felix Sabates)(12-18-2012)

McDonald's to sponsor McMurray in more races in 2013: McDonald's will increase its sponsorship on Jamie McMurray's #1 Chevy to help make up for the departure of primary sponsor Bass Pro Shops, an Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing spokesperson said Thursday. EGR's Jeff Dowling said in an email he's "not 100% sure" what McDonald's total commitment will be, but that the team is planning an announcement on Jan. 23 during the NASCAR media tour that will outline sponsorship for the #1 car. McDonald's sponsored 13 races in 2012. Bass Pro Shops, which will sponsor #14-Tony Stewart in 18 races in 2013, is not leaving McMurray completely. According to Dowling, Bass Pro Shops is expected to remain as an associate sponsor and "hopefully be the primary on the #1 Chevy for one or more races." The team is still working on details. McMurray also had several one-off sponsors on his car in 2012, and Dowling said announcements on others will be announced soon.(As the World Turns)(12-16-2012)

Earnhardt Ganassi switching to Hendrick engines: The "Earnhardt" in Earnhardt-Childress Racing won't use the company's engines beginning in 2013. Earnhardt Ganassi Racing will use motors leased from Hendrick Motorsports starting next season, a team representative told reporters at Texas Motor Speedway on Friday. The move is surprising considering ECR was formed as a joint engine-building effort between Earnhardt Ganassi and Richard Childress Racing. EGR has struggled over the last two seasons with drivers #42-Juan Pablo Montoya and #1-Jamie McMurray, and team owner Chip Ganassi apparently felt a change was necessary in the engine program. RCR team owner Richard Childress said he wasn't surprised by Ganassi's decision to pull out of ECR and said he's been aware of the possibility for quite some time. Childress said his team will have "a couple" new customers next season - though he wouldn't say who - and also has an existing sponsor in Furniture Row Racing. ECR will retain its name because the teams "have a different relationship with the engines," Childress said.(SB Nation)(11-2-2012)

Jamie McMurray Foundation to Donate Greenery for Joplin MO: The Jamie McMurray Foundation announced that it will provide the greenery for homes in Joplin, MO. The homes are being built as part of the recovery efforts in the wake of the EF5 tornado that ravaged NASCAR driver Jamie McMurray's hometown on May 22, 2011. The donation is to support Missouri Governor Jay Nixon's, Joplin Challenge with Habitat for Humanity. More info on my NASCAR Charities News / Events page.(10-19-2012)

Liftmaster renewals partnership with EGR: LiftMaster, the world's number one brand of professionally installed garage door openers, gate operators and commercial door operators, announced recently that it will extend its partnership with Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates and driver Jamie McMurray through 2014. The partnership will include LiftMaster as the primary sponsor on the #1 Chevy driven by 2010 Daytona 500 winner Jamie McMurray. In addition to the one-race primary sponsorship, LiftMaster's branding will be prominent on the #1 Chevy for the remaining NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races, along with placement on McMurray's firesuit and the #1 team uniforms. To coincide with the partnership extension with Earnhardt Ganassi Racing and Jamie McMurray, LiftMaster renewed its alliance with JMI (Just Marketing International), their motorsports agency of record. LiftMaster will look to JMI to maximize its NASCAR assets and execute on-site activation and regional programming with LiftMaster's 4,000 independent dealers.(Earnhardt Ganassi Racing)(10-12-2012)

Bass Pro Shops could still sponsor McMurray some: [Bass Pro Shops owner Johnny] Morris said Bass Pro Shops will not continue at the same level with Earnhardt Ganassi Racing and driver Jamie McMurray in 2013, which means EGR now must find funding to replace the chief sponsor of its # 1 car. The Bass Pro relationship with EGR may not be over, though. EGR president Steve Lauletta said Friday the company is in talks to have Bass Pro remain as a primary sponsor, just in a much more limited capacity. "I anticipate you'll see the Bass Pro Shops logo on the hood of our car for a few races next year," Lauletta said. McDonald's and existing sponsors such as Liftmaster will have the chance to increase their involvement, Lauletta said, an opportunity which wasn't available before. EGR's teams have been fully sponsored for the last three seasons. In addition, Lauletta said there could be new sponsors who link up with EGR. "There's a number of new companies we've been talking to who have shown interest in doing primary races and we haven't had the ability to deliver on those - and now we will," Lauletta said. "I believe we'll get a few of those over the goal line."(SB Nation)(10-6-2012)

Bass Pro Shops will sponsor Stewart in 2013: UPDATE: After the smoke cleared, Tony Stewart emerged from his #14 Chevy in the parking lot of Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World to a thunderous ovation from about 600 fans who gathered to hear confirmation of what many already suspected. "I want to introduce you to Tony Stewart, new driver of the Bass Pro Shops Chevy," Bass Pro founder Johnny Morris said late Thursday afternoon. And with that, a day before complete details are revealed at Talladega, the reigning and three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion had a new primary sponsor for 2013. Stewart-Haas racing was in the market for a sponsor after Office Depot announced earlier this year it was leaving the sport. And Bass Pro was in the final year of a sponsorship agreement with Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing's Jamie McMurray. Mobil One is staying as the second primary sponsor, Stewart said. Morris said Bass Pro also plans to continue as a sponsor for brothers Austin and Ty Dillon in the NASCAR Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series, respectively, and that he appreciates the bond with Joplin native McMurray over the last three seasons.(Springfield, MO News-Leader)(10-4-2012)
UPDATE: Bass Pro Shops, America's most popular outdoor retailer, announced it will join Mobil 1 as the primary co-sponsor of Tony Stewart and the #14 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team of Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) beginning in 2013. Bass Pro Shops will adorn the hood of Stewart's #14 Chevy for 18 races, including the Daytona 500. Mobil 1, the world's leading synthetic motor oil brand, will be on the hood for 11 races. Nine primary races remain available for a brand to partner with Stewart, the three-time and reigning Sprint Cup champion. Bass Pro Shops joining the Sprint Cup team Stewart co-owns with Gene Haas, founder of Haas Automation  the largest CNC machine tool builder in the western world  is the culmination of a more than decade-long partnership between Stewart and Bass Pro Shops. Stewart has been a brand ambassador for Bass Pro Shops since 2001, beginning with a personal services agreement that morphed into sponsorship of Stewart's dirt Late Model stock car that he campaigns at various short tracks across the country, including the annual Prelude To The Dream at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio, where Stewart is a three-time winner (2006, 2008 and 2009). It continued via a primary sponsorship of Stewart's World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series team beginning in 2005, and as an associate sponsor of SHR since the team's inception in 2009.(Stewart-Haas Racing), see an image of the car on the 2013 #14 team paint schemes page and see earlier updates about Bass Pro moving on the #14 team news page.(10-5-2012)

Georgia-Pacific signs on as associate partner with McMurray: Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates announces an associate partnership agreement with Georgia-Pacific Professional and Communication Papers for the #1 McDonald's team, beginning this weekend at Chicagoland Speedway. Georgia-Pacific will have its logo displayed on the # 1 McDonald's Chevy of Jamie McMurray. Georgia-Pacific will also host an event with Jamie McMurray at Harrah's Casino in Joliet, IL on Saturday night and another at the race track on Sunday for the GEICO 400 at Chicagoland Speedway.(EGR)(9-14-2012)

McMurray re-signs with Ganassi UPDATE: #1-Jamie McMurray confirmed Saturday that he has signed a contract extension with Earnhardt Ganassi Racing for 2013. "I'm set for here," McMurray said after qualifying at Watkins Glen International. "It's done. I haven't really made a big deal about it. Drivers take different approaches to that. Some like all the publicity taking about. I don't. & But everything is set for next year and I'm excited to be back here." McMurray didn't say how long his extension runs, but he apparently didn't test the free-agent market. Ganassi officials would not confirm nor deny that McMurray signed an extension. It is Ganassi policy not to comment on contracts.(Sporting News)(8-12-2012)
UPDATE: a quote by #1-Jamie McMurray after his accident at Watkins Glen on August 12th.
Q) YOU HAVE EXTENDED YOUR CONTRACT WITH EGR?
McMurray: "It's been since May when that all went down. I haven't really talked about it. Nobody asked me and I didn't really volunteer it. You watch guys the way they handle that. Some like to make it very public and then there are others that just kind of go about their business."(Team Chevy Race Notes and Quotes)(8-13-2012)

No driver changes planned for EGR: [Earnhardt Ganassi Racing owner Chip] Ganassi has a lot of new people and a lot of new systems he put in place prior to this season, understanding great change was needed. He expects to struggle to some degree as most organizations do during the transition stages. He is hopeful because he sees progress within that few of us can see on the surface. "Are we where we want to be in the points? No," Ganassi says. "Are we where we want to be performance-wise? No. Are we happy with the people we have and direction we're going? Yes." EGR is in better shape than a lot of organizations on things that count. It is solid with sponsor Target for #42-Juan Pablo Montoya, and optimistic McDonald's and Bass Pro Shop will be back with #1-Jamie McMurray. EGR isn't looking to make driver changes, with Montoya already signed and McMurray close to a new deal. "We're in the middle of a process now," Ganassi says. "That process is going very well. While all things are not apparent to the eye on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, back at headquarters in Charlotte as a NASCAR team everybody is very excited about where things are going." Ganassi is asked: Can you expand on those things? "No," he says.(in part from ESPN.com)(7-27-2012)

Ganassi honored as history maker: The Heinz History Center will honor NASCAR, Grand-Am and IndyCar team owner Chip Ganassi for his contributions to the [Pittsburgh] region and the nation at the 20th Annual History Makers Award Dinner on April 13.(Pittsburgh Post Gazette)(4-10-2012)
UPDATE: Floyd "Chip" Ganassi Jr. received the history maker in sports award. "A fixture in the auto racing industry for more than 25 years, he has won worldwide renown as one of the sport's most successful and innovative owners. A fierce competitor with a passion for winning, he is also known as a sharp businessman and industry leader."(North Hills Patch)(4-16-2012)

EGR signs Larson as development driver: Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates signed 19-year-old Kyle Larson to its roster as a developmental driver. The Elk Grove, Calif. native took the racing world by storm in 2011  his first season competing on the national racing scene. Larson captured 22 major professional feature wins, including victories in the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series, all three United States Auto Club National Divisions and the American Sprint Car Series. Larson gained international notoriety last fall by sweeping the 4-Crown Nationals at Eldora Speedway -- winning in Midgets, Sprint Cars and Silver Crown cars in the same night. In addition to his role as an Earnhardt Ganassi Racing development driver, Larson, who is Japanese American, will also participate in the NASCAR Drive for Diversity program in 2012 for Rev Racing in the NASCAR East Series.(Earnhardt Ganassi Racing)(2-18-2012)