In the Pits- GINN

Dale Earnhardt, Inc. and Ginn Racing merge
to create powerful four-car team

Dale Earnhardt, Inc., already one of the world’s premier racing organizations, has become even stronger through a merger with Ginn Racing.
     Effective immediately, the team will feature the Chevrolets of Paul Menard, Martin Truex Jr., Dale Earnhardt Jr., Mark Martin and Aric Almirola. Martin and Almirola will combine to drive the No. 01 Army Chevrolet for the remainder of the 2007 season, as well as the 2008 season. Menard drives the Menards Chevrolet, Truex drives the Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet and Earnhardt drives the Budweiser Chevrolet.
     “This merger is great for both companies,” said Max Siegel, president of global operations for DEI. “Our stated goals included an expansion to four cars as quickly as possible and, in order to do that, we had to acquire more shop space. This relationship with Bobby Ginn and his company allows us to accomplish both, which makes this a perfect transaction.”
     The numerous teams of Dale Earnhardt, Inc., will operate from the original facility built by Dale and Teresa Earnhardt, as well as the nearly 180,000-square-foot facility currently housing Ginn Racing’s teams. The buildings are less than five miles apart in Mooresville, NC.
     Dale Earnhardt, Inc.’s current management team will be responsible for all day-to-day activities, and transition plans have already begun to develop.
     John Story, vice president of motorsports for DEI, will oversee the expansion of the company’s racing efforts.
     “The combined resources of the companies are tremendous,” Story said. “Ginn Racing just completed the installation of a seven-post rig. With our recently formed R&D team, as well as the combined efforts of two strong engineering programs, we will be able to stay on the cutting edge. Both companies have many talented people. All of our teams will undoubtedly become stronger.”
     In completing this merger, points on Ginn Racing’s No. 13 car, which was 34th in NASCAR Nextel Cup owner’s points, have been eliminated.
     “NASCAR’s cap of four teams per company meant we had to give something up,” said Ginn. “We felt so strongly about this merger that we surrendered the intangible value of the 13 car. There are three huge benefits to us—the real estate, Mark Martin and an ability to work with Bobby Ginn on strategic development projects,”
     Siegel said. “Mark has pledged his complete support to our young drivers and our company in an effort to make us all better. Given his stature in the sport, this type of benefit cannot be quantified.
     “Teresa and Bobby have discussed high- level strategies concerning her development objectives, and who would be better to partner with than Bobby? This is a win-win relationship in its truest form.”