Add Reed Sorenson to the list of drivers moving on after the ‘08 season comes to an end. He is in the 3rd year as driver of the #41 Target Dodge for Ganassi Racing. currently, Reed sits 24th in the series points. Clearly, he will miss the chase, but his ride is in no danger of missing a race.
Minority owner, Felix Sabates had this to say. “From my point of view, his contract is over,” Sabates said. “I think Reed is today as good as he’s ever going to be. If somebody else wants to put him in a car, fine with us.
“We have a pretty good idea that he’s going to drive the 10 car. I wish him good luck.” **
Troubles at Ganassi Racing seem to be more than what Felix seems to think of Reed Sorenson’s talent. There has been talk that long time sponsor, Target Stores may reduce its commitment or simply leave as a major sponsor in the Ganassi/Sabates organization. This is more bad news to go with the announcement last week that Texaco would end its association with the Ganassi #42 car. That leaves 18 races on the ‘09 schedule that need a major sponsor to fill.
Chip and Felix may need some good luck wished on them as well.
“Texaco was a great sponsor for a long time, but for the last year they really have been disconnected with the sport,” Sabates said. “They have focused on other things. We really didn’t get much support from them. The money wasn’t all that great.
“For us, it was a blessing that we can go out and find somebody who can pay us some real money.”
“Texaco was a liability for us because out of loyalty to them, we weren’t aggressively looking to replace them,” Sabates said. “We kept hoping they maybe would wake up one of these days and decide they need to be in NA$CAR. The company, I feel bad for them, they only made $6 billion last quarter.
“The Texaco management is disconnected from racing. All the new people don’t know what a race car looks like.”
In Grumpy’s view, the Ganassi/Sabates team is not in the top tier. They could find themselves struggling to have 2 cars hit the track by the time the ‘09 season opens. I think ol’ Felix has a pretty arrogant attitude about Sorenson and his sponsor prospects. Perhaps Sorenson is in 24th place because that is as good as it gets for that car, that team. Sorenson may go to GEM and the #10 car and hit the track running as good as Kasey Kahne. It could happen.
Ganassi ran Jimmy Elledge out last spring. Elledge found a home at team Red Bull and Brian Vickers. That team has made remarkable progress since Elledge took over.
**Grumpy’s edit: Within a short time of posting this, SceneDaily and thatsracin.com both reported that Reed Sorenson has signed to drive for Gillett-Evernham Motorsports beginning with the ‘09 season. It is unclear at this point if Sorenson is coming in to take the wheel of the #10, currently driven by Patrick Carpentier, or for a 4th entry from GEM.
I’m pretty pumped up about this,” Sorenson said. “I can’t wait to get in their cars. …I really believe in what they are doing with their program. …Ray Evernham and the Gilletts are going to give us the equipment we need to go out and be a contender each weekend and eventually race for a championship.”
“I just, obviously, made a move that I felt like would be better for myself and the future, and hopefully this will be a good move,” Sorenson said.
“I think the team fits me well here, and I just see where this would be a good move for me on down the road and short term, as well. I just felt like it was the right thing for me to do to come over here.”
So there you have it. Reed Sorenson spent the least amount of time in limbo of any cup driver this season.
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