Chip Ganassi, the CEO of Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR), has dropped a big hint about his team’s return to NASCAR via a new charter, admitting that he would “never say never.”
CGR amassed 20 Cup Series wins and 24 Xfinity Series wins during its storied two-decade NASCAR journey, before selling its charters to Trackhouse Racing after the 2021 season.
At present, CGR is partnering with Honda in the NTT IndyCar series. The Japanese engine supplier is reportedly considering a NASCAR Cup Series entry in the future, and its entry into stock car racing will be possible through the purchase of new charters. When Ganassi was asked if he was open to the prospect of returning to NASCAR, he said:
“Am I open to it, I wouldn’t say ‘yes’ or ‘no,’ but what I can tell you is that I haven’t had that conversation with Honda. I have never had that conversation with NASCAR but I am also smart enough to never say never.”
Kurt Busch, driver of the #1 Monster Energy Chevrolet, and team owner Chip Ganassi talk on the grid prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Pocono Organics CBD 325 at Pocono Raceway on June 26, 2021…
Kurt Busch, driver of the #1 Monster Energy Chevrolet, and team owner Chip Ganassi talk on the grid prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Pocono Organics CBD 325 at Pocono Raceway on June 26, 2021 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania.
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Ganassi was then asked if he ever considered placing IndyCar driver Alex Palou in a Cup Series car, given the championship wins he has secured from 2022 through the current year. The CGR boss said:
“You’re onto something there, so the answer is yes because the formula has changed since I was there. It is a formula that does lend itself to the kind of racing we do and the kind of engineering we do, that we’re good at.
“So the answer to that is yes, but I have not had any of those discussions or given it much thought.”
Newsweek Sports reported Honda’s interest in entering NASCAR after Ram Trucks announced its entry in the Truck Series in June. However, the timeline for Honda’s entry is not known yet.
NASCAR’s executive vice president and chief racing development officer, John Probst, confirmed that the sport was very close to signing a deal with another automaker. He said:
“I don’t want to jinx ourselves, but I would say that we are very close with one other. Can’t speak for them. Obviously, it’s their decision to make. We would love for them to decide to come into NASCAR, and even with that, there’s one or two others that we’re a little bit earlier in the discussions, but also looking pretty positive.
“But we all know that an OEM deciding to come into NASCAR, it’s a big commitment for them. It’s not something that they take lightly. It requires a lot of research and approval at the highest levels. We’re confident right now. We like the position we’re in, and think that we’re a pretty good investment for an OEM.”