Number 48 has already spent several afternoons in the Hendrick pasture, nuzzling the flanks of smaller cars from NASCAR's "minor-league" Nationwide and ARCA series whose owners hope to capitalize on the Hendrick car's bloodline.
Evernham quitting NASCAR to buy a track? NASCAR team owner Ray Evernham announced Thursday night in Lincolnton [NC] that he is in advanced negotiations to purchase the East Lincoln Speedway and plans to retire from NASCAR. Evernham and partner Bob Mack of Cornelius-based RPM Group Holdings said they had hoped to have the keys to the speedway in their hands when they appeared at the Lincolnton-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce’s Business After-Hours event to make the announcement, but were prevented from doing so as negotiations continued. Evernham said he has already sold off most of his interest in the Gillett-Evernham Motorsports race team and is ending his career with NASCAR. “I want to get back into grassroots racing,” he told the gathering of area community leaders and businesspeople. Contacted by the Times-News Friday morning, current track owner Ralph Nantz said he couldn’t “talk much about it right now,” but confirmed that “serious” negotiations with Evernham were under way. “You might say he is showing some interest,” Nantz said. The East Lincoln Speedway has been in operation since 1991 and is a 3/8 mile clay oval track.(Lincoln Times-News), no word if Evernham will be back with ESPN in 2009
Number 48 has already spent several afternoons in the Hendrick pasture, nuzzling the flanks of smaller cars from NASCAR's "minor-league" Nationwide and ARCA series whose owners hope to capitalize on the Hendrick car's bloodline.
Wow. I saw him a couple nights ago on some program, Best of luck to him. They got the job done for more than a few years.
Thanks for starting this thread too! :-]
I’ve thought this was coming for the last 6 months...
___________________________________________________________
Siegel’s NASCAR future in doubt after merger
Former Baker & Daniels lawyer could get axed
Sat. November 22 - 2008
Anthony Schoettle -
IBJ staff
Max Siegel’s life has been full of adversity and challenges. The former Baker & Daniels attorney turned NASCAR team executive should feel right at home at the ever-morphing Dale Earnhardt Inc., which is making cuts that could land Siegel back in Indianapolis.
The company for which Siegel has served as president of global operations since early 2007 announced this month that it will merge with Chip Ganassi’s NASCAR team. The combined six-car Earnhardt-Ganassi team will be trimmed to four next year. Already, Siegel has cut 116 of about 300 employees from his staff. Ganassi officials declined to comment about changes to their staff.
“It’s gut-wrenching to go through and make those decisions,” Siegel said. “You’re balancing the best interests of the business and the impact you’re having on somebody’s life. It’s very emotional.”
Everyone cut at DEI got severance packages and outplacement counseling, Siegel said. But that hasn’t made it easier.
“It was a very tough week,” he said.
No one in NASCAR thinks the cuts are over at DEI. Many wonder if Siegel, the first high-ranking black NASCAR executive, will be next. Siegel said he’s unsure what his future holds, but is committed to staying at DEI at least until the merger is complete.
Sources within both teams said Siegel’s fate will be determined in the next four to six weeks. One source close to the merger talks said an announcement could come as soon as Thanksgiving.
“There’s no doubt there will be serious streamlining at both DEI and at Ganassi,” said Speedway Illustrated Executive Editor Dick Berggren. “No position is above scrutiny.”
Siegel is prized for his expertise as both a business operator and a marketer. But Steve Lauletta, president of Ganassi Racing, is also a star marketer, having worked stints for Miller Brewing Co. and New York-based Radiate Sports Group.
Few doubt Siegel would fall on the sword for the good of his company and his employees. Most hope that won’t happen.
“He’s built a reputation as a solid businessman who will do whatever is needed for the good of his company,” Berggren said. “He’s become very well-respected in a short time in NASCAR. This guy doesn’t have a single enemy.”
http://www.ibj.com/html/detail_page.asp?content=24717