tool name
closeFranchitti appears to be staying in NASCAR - for now
By Jim Utter
jutter@charlotteobserver.com
Tuesday, Jul. 08, 2008
It appears former IndyCar Series champion Dario Franchitti is remaining in NASCAR, at least for time being.
According to NASCAR's most recent entry list for this weekend's Nationwide race at Chicagoland Speedway, Franchitti is now driving the No. 40 in Friday night's Dollar General 300, replacing rookie Bryan Clausen, who was originally scheduled to be in the car.
Reached by phone Tuesday night, John Olguin, Ganassi's vice president of marketing and communications, said he could not confirm Franchitti was in the car this weekend.
Sources close to the situation told the Observer Clausen has been informed by Ganassi officials he would not be in the car for one or two weeks.
Franchitti, who started the 2008 Sprint Cup season driving the No. 40 Dodge for Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates, lost his ride last week when Ganassi shut down the team because of lack of sponsorship.
At the time, Ganassi said he was leaving Franchitti the option of remaining with the program and could drive the team's No. 40 Dodge in the Nationwide Series if he so chose. As recently as Monday, no decision had been made.
Franchitti has made 10 Cup starts with a best finish of 22nd at Martinsville, Va. He has made 14 starts in the Nationwide Series with a career-best sixth at Las Vegas this season.