As a result, at a press conference later today Chip Ganassi will start reshaping the future of the team by formally announcing long-rumored changes that will yield Marlin’s #40 Dodge to driver David Stremme. “It wasn’t an easy decision, I’ll tell you that,” Ganassi said. “I’m sure if you were to ask Rick Hendrick if Tim Richmond or Geoff Bodine contributed to his team’s overall success, he’d answer ‘yes.’ Sterling’s done that for us, too, and that’s why I’m not just cutting him loose, even though at the end of this contract I didn’t owe him anything.” Engineered by Ganassi, Marlin will get a substantial, six-figure, three-year personal services contract — the money coming in equal parts from Ganassi and Coors. According to Ganassi, the changes won’t stop with the #40 Dodge — though such aren’t scheduled to be formally announced today. Reed Sorenson, also recent grist in the rumor mill, will be moving up to Cup, too — but not at the expense of Casey Mears, as many have predicted. Though all the parts have yet to fall perfectly into place, Ganassi is working toward fielding a four-car Nextel Cup effort in 2006. There’s even a fairly substantial chance of Ganassi’s Rolex Series effort growing from two to three DP cars in 2006.(Daytona Beach News Jourmal)(6-19-2005)
AND So…what is up with Marlin? David Stremme was officially introduced Sunday as driver of Chip Ganassi Racing’s #40 Dodges for 2006, but that news was overshadowed by the announcement of Sterling Marlin’s potential plans. Marlin, who has driven the #40 Coors entry for the past eight seasons, will finish out the 2005 campaign in that machine. But moving forward he has a decision to make. Team owner Felix Sabates said Marlin wants to compete full-time in the Nextel Cup Series next year, but has a lucrative deal on the table from Sabates and Chip Ganassi to “hang around.” The personal services deal, which Chip Ganassi said was “well into the six-figures,” also includes a full-time schedule Armando Fitz’s #40 Busch Series entry, Sabates said. “Both Chip and I wanted to make sure he hung around with us,” Sabates explained. “So I went to Coors and said, ‘Hey, Sterling has been with us now for eight years and deserves for you guys to do something with him.’ So he has a very lucrative deal just to hang around, really. He said he wants to (drive in Nextel Cup). But he told me yesterday he’s not going to drive for somebody that doesn’t have a competitive team. I hope he gets something, but if not he’s got a full-time Busch ride for next year. If I was him, with the money we’re paying him, I’d take the Busch ride. He’s still going to be involved with us. That’s an extension of our race team.”(NASCAR.com)(6-19-2005)
AND MORE Marlin has not announced his plans for next year, though Ganassi said he has offered a personal-services contract to Marlin for more than $100,000 to serve as an ‘ambassador.'”(Richmond Times Dispatch)(6-20-2005)
