John Menard to buy Ganassi Cup teams?

One of the hottest stories in the garage Thursday was intense speculation that veteran team owner Chip Ganassi may be considering selling his two-team NASCAR operation to John Menard. Menard, who owns the Midwestern home improvement chain Menards, is a long-time racer, and he is currently sponsoring his son Paul's NASCAR team, part of the Richard Childress organization. Ganassi and Childress are both Chevy men. Childress supplied Ganassi's two teams (with #1-Jamie McMurray and #42-Juan Pablo Montoya) with engines until this season, when Ganassi switched to Hendrick motors. Of the sport's top eight team owners, Ganassi this season ranks seventh in finishes. Of particular disappointment is Montoya, who is averaging a 27th place finish; Montoya's last top-10 was at Michigan last June, and his last tour win was at Watkins Glen in the summer of 2010. McMurray's seventh at Martinsville last weekend was his best finish in over a year.(MikeMulhern.net)

With Robby's long time relationship with Menard, would have to think this could open the door for some opportunities (even if it's single race deals) for Robby in the future. Obvious Paul Menard would be one of the drivers and Menard keeping Montoya or McMurray (pending sponsorship) or add Paul as a 3rd team.

This could be another blow to RCR who is losing Kevin Harvick and his sponsors. RCR would be left with a near retiring Jeff Burton and young grandson Dillion. It appears Childress is investing so much into his grandsons that it's driving away other drivers.

If Dillion is successful RCR will thrive again, if not, Childress will likely follow Junior Johnson and Robert Yates as they watch their empires crumble.

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Permalink Reply by Beagle7 on April 12, 2013 at 11:51am

It's a pipe dream..but IF Menard did buy Gnassi...if Robby ever was going to get back into Nascar this would be it somehow..but I'm certainly not holding my breath over it.

I have to think if SST does well and he's happy he ain't going back.

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Permalink Reply by Kevin Meyer on April 12, 2013 at 1:04pm

I agree. I could see RG running a road race at some point if he's got nothing better to do but I seriously doubt he'd go out of his way to do it. Could we start a thread about Robby jumping back into a sports car? I'd pay money to see that...

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Permalink Reply by 7gason7 on April 12, 2013 at 12:03pm

In my opinion Baja Bob could buy Ganassi and RG would still never run in Cup again.

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Permalink Reply by Turtle7 on April 12, 2013 at 12:11pm

Bigzoom I think your analysis is good. But my speculation is that if the SST doesn't pan out, and JM does buy Ganassi, you may see RG managing the team down the road.