One looming issue with JR Motorsports is that the organization is still searching for full sponsorship for its flagship #88 car. Funding was pieced together this season, but a large chunk of money was lost when GoDaddy.com decided to move to the Sprint Cup Series as full sponsor for Mark Martin at Hendrick Motorsports. Earnhardt on Thursday called the sponsorship search “a dire situation” and said it’s likely new driver Kelly Bires will only be able to run half of the season. Earnhardt does not run JR Motorsports for profit, but instead created the organization as a way to help employ many of his family members. He said he expects Tony Eury Jr. to be the crew chief for the team next season. Eury was fired as Earnhardt’s crew chief at Hendrick in June. (Associated Press)
AND Currently, the #5 car has sponsorship to run just four races all with Earnhardt Jr. in the car, he said. “We’ve got irons in the fire, but we’ve had irons in the fire for months,” he said. “I’m a little worried about that. I’d like to run [the 88 car the] full season next year. I think the Nationwide Series is better with that car running a full season next year. But the possibilities of that happening do not look really good right now. “It’s very unfortunate. We’re working to try to find opportunities for our team to race. We’ve met with over half-a-dozen drivers in the last six months to try to find packages and potential in not only talent but sponsor money to keep 100-plus employees employed throughout next season.” Earnhardt Jr. previously co-owned JRM with Sprint Cup owner Hendrick, with the two each holding a 50 percent stake in the company. Now, Earnhardt Jr. has added his sister and Eury who had been his Cup crew chief until being replaced last spring to the ownership roster.(SceneDaily)(12-3-2009)
