The newly merged Earnhardt Ganassi Racing team has shut down its NASCAR Nationwide Series operation, former crew chief Brad Parrott confirmed Wednesday. Parrott said seven crew members were laid off from the team, which originally planned to run the full Nationwide schedule next year with driver Bryan Clauson. The laid-off crew members were told Monday, Parrott said, and Earnhardt Ganassi is trying to sell its inventory of Nationwide Dodges. Parrott said sponsor Fastenal left Earnhardt Ganassi and is searching for another team. Parrott also hopes to bring a core group of crewmen with him to another team, if sponsorship can be found. Parrott said he has contacted Gillett Evernham Motorsports about the crew chief opening for Elliott Sadler’s #19 Sprint Cup team but has not talked directly about that job. “With 23 years of racing experience – and I just had my first year without going to victory lane in NASCAR since 1992 – the fire still burns,” Parrott said. “I can still win races as a crew chief, as a car chief or as a manager or as whatever needs to be done. I’ve got my name out there already, trying to beat down as many doors as I can because I know there’s a lot of people needing jobs,” Parrott said. “I’ve got a group of guys that have been together for three years. We can go as separate people, or we can go as a team.” Parrott has talked to two owners who want to bring him and his crewmen together, pending sponsorship. They said, “Brad, you’re at the top of our list if we can get this deal done,'” Parrott said. “They’re very close on the deals, and that’s them telling me I’m at the top of their list.”(SceneDaily)(12-11-2008)
