Sirius Speedway has learned that Chevron-Texaco will not return as sponsor of #42-Juan Pablo Montoya’s Dodge next season. The Texaco-Havoline brand is in the final year of its sponsorship contract with Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates, and a media representative for Ganassi Racing confirmed the move this afternoon. Texaco-Havoline will not move to another team in 2009, electing instead to end their longstanding involvement in NASCAR. That decision leaves Ganassi Racing in need of at least two new sponsors in 2009, and possibly three. Team owner Chip Ganassi recently parked the #40 Dodge driven by Dario Franchitti due to lack of sponsorship, and there are longstanding rumors that Target may not return to the #41 Dodge currently driven by Reed Sorenson. (Sirius Speedway/Motorsports Soapbox)(8-19-2008) UPDATE: Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates will need to find another sponsor for Juan Pablo Montoya in 2009 because Texaco sponsorship will dry up at the end of the season. Texaco/Havoline is leaving NASCAR and therefore will not return to the #42 next season, Ganassi officials said Tuesday. Ganassi is now looking for sponsors for Montoya for half of next season. Wrigley’s will sponsor the other half, as it has done this season. The #40 team with driver Dario Franchitti was shut down earlier this year when no sponsors could be lined up. Team officials said they were not surprised by Texaco’s decision, saying they knew the company was looking to leave the sport. Ganassi’s other team — the #41 of Reed Sorenson — is sponsored by Target, which also sponsors Ganassi’s championship-contending IndyCar Series teams. Ganassi officials said the Target sponsorship is solid for both NASCAR and IndyCar beyond this season. Ganassi still plans to field at least two teams in 2009 and hopes enough sponsorship can be found for a third.(ESPN.com)(8-20-2008) UPDATE2: Oil company Chevron Corp. will stop sponsoring a NASCAR team through its Texaco and Halvoline brands at the end of this season. San Ramon-based Chevron didn’t say why it is ending its sponsorship. Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates has been sponsored by the two brands for five years. Chevron itself has been involved with NASCAR for 20 years. Chevron will change its marketing strategy for the two brands, focusing on local and regional campaigns. Chevron bought White Plains, N.Y.-based Texaco in 2001 for about $44 billion. The company kept Texaco as part of its name for a few years before dropping it and taking the name Chevron again in 2005. It has been changing its Texaco business lately, selling stations with that brand. Last week the company said it would sell 2,000 Texaco gas stations in Brazil for about $730 million.(San Francisco Business Times)(8-21-2008)
