Chip Ganassi makes ‘Dale Earnhardt Jr. condition’ for NASCAR return

Ex-NASCAR team owner Chip Ganassi discussed the possibility of a return to the Cup Series with legends of the sport.

Chip Ganassi makes ‘Dale Earnhardt Jr. condition’ for NASCAR return

Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Chip Ganassi (Via IMAGO and Sportscasting)

It marked an end of an era in 2022 when Chip Ganassi decided to end their NASCAR operations, by selling their resources to Trackhouse Racing. They shifted their whole focus to IndyCar and Sportscar racing, away from stock car racing that has evolved with the Next-Gen cars. But it seems there is still hopes of Chip Ganassi Racing returning to Cup.

In the latest episode of Kevin Harvick‘s Happy Hour podcast of Chip Ganassi admitted that he still wants to return to stock car racing, but there are some reservations. He doesn’t want to comeback alone and jokingly said that he would love to come back with the likes of Harvick or Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. as his partners.

I get that question a lot. Of course, I would never say never… I probably would want some people like if you and Dale Jr. (Earnhardt) decide to get back in, you let me know and I’ll come with you…I would want somebody else to help shoulder the responsibility of it. I just couldn’t do it the way I’d like to go racing.

Chip Ganassi said via Happy Hour podcast.

The legendary team owner knows that he can’t no longer bear the financial and leadership reasonability’s of a team alone and wants the support of people that are strongly involved in the team. Dale Jr. and Harvick are already business partners with the CARS Tour, so building a new Cup team with Ganassi, just like the last years of DEI.inc, where they worked together can be special.

So how the Ganassi wants the dynamic of the new teams to be? Well, he is looking for some someone that will give him proper financial backing, good drivers, and crew as well as the opportunity for him to remain involved. He wants to be in the pit-lane with his crew, experiencing things firsthand.

I’d like to have proper financial backing, having the proper people driving the cars, working on the cars and I’d like to be involved. I’m not one of these owners that sits up in the suite eating and drinking. I’m down in the pit lane with the team.

Chip Ganassi added.

Chip Ganassi explains the different culture in NASCAR and IndyCar

In the same conversation, Ganassi was asked about the difference in culture between NASCAR and IndyCar. He admitted that all series has their own different culture, built by the legends of the sport. For NASCAR it has been the France family, Wood Brothers, the Petty family and more.

Chip Ganassi and Alex Palou
Chip Ganassi and Alex Palou (Credits: Autosport)

Each series has their own culture and none of them are good or bad, they just are what they are and it’s a culture that’s developed. The culture in NASCAR was developed because of the people like the France family and the Wood Brothers, the Pettys and Banjo Matthews and all these people from a long time.

Chip Ganassi said.

When it comes to IndyCar, it was AJ Foyt, the Andretti’s and Penske played a significant role in building the culture there. Alongside all of them Ganassi also deserves some credit for the contribution towards building the sport to the level it is now.

Also Read: “That s**t we’re doing at Martinsville…!” Dale Earnhardt Jr. urges NASCAR host a Xfinity Series race at North Wilkesboro