Report: Rob Kauffman ‘close’ to purchasing stake in Ganassi Racing
As speculation about Michael Waltrip Racing’s 2016 manufacturer mounts, it may have more things different about it next season that simply the make of the car.
According to the Sports Business Journal, MWR co-owner Rob Kauffman is “close” to purcahsing Felix Sabates’ stake in Chip Ganassi Racing. In doing so he would take the No. 15 and Clint Bowyer with him to Ganassi and the team would be a three-car team in 2016 with Jamie McMurray and Kyle Larson.
MWR has been mentioned as possibly moving to Chevrolet in 2016 but this is a wrinkle about the team’s future that hasn’t been publicly mentioned until today.
Michael Waltrip Racing principal Owner Rob Kauffman is close to purchasing Felix Sabates’ stake in Chip Ganassi Racing, according to multiple industry sources, which would cause Kauffman to drop his affiliation with MWR if the sale is completed. Kauffman, who has been with MWR for eight years, would take on Sabates’ minority stake in the team, while CGR principal Owner Chip Ganassi would continue to retain majority control, according to sources. It is unclear if Sabates will hold onto a small stake to retain his affiliation with the team or if he will be dropping the affiliation entirely.
Kauffman bought into Michael Waltrip Racing in 2007 as the team was struggling in its debut Sprint Cup Series season. Waltrip, the former driver and now-Fox analyst, has mentioned before how important Kauffman’s financial backing was to the survival of his race team.
“I wouldn’t be standing here in an interview, if I hadn’t met Rob,’’ Waltrip said in an interview with NASCAR.com in 2013. “Us hitting it off and sharing the same goals and dreams for the team, now seven years later, we’re best friends.
“I like who he is as a person. He doesn’t like when I say this, but I’m forever indebted to him. Not financially, but this whole endeavor is a big part of who I am and he helped me continue the dream.’’
The SBJ report said Ganassi officials declined comment and MWR didn’t respond to inquiries. Kauffman is a respected figure in the garage area. He’s been the voice of the Race Team Alliance, a grouping of all the Sprint Cup Series teams to help collaborate on NASCAR-related issues.
Michael Waltrip Racing has struggled since it was forced to downsize with the departure of longtime sponsor NAPA in 2013. The auto parts company left after the Richmond scandal involving a purposeful spin by Bowyer to get Martin Truex Jr. in the Chase.
Since then, MWR hasn’t won a race. Truex won at Pocono with Furniture Row Racing in June and NAPA teamed up with Chase Elliott in the Xfinity Series. The company will also sponsor Elliott in the Cup Series in 2016 as he moves up to replace Jeff Gordon in the No. 24.
Ganassi’s performance has risen in that timeframe as Jamie McMurray is in line for a Chase berth in 2015 and Kyle Larson ran well in 2014, though he’s fallen short of expectations so far this season. Adding Bowyer to the team would be a boost for the two drivers and for Bowyer himself.
Bowyer finished second in the points standings in 2012 but has finished seventh and 19th in the standings in the past two seasons. He’s in currently line for the Chase on points but could get knocked out if another winless driver wins a race. MWR shuffled the crew chiefs of Bowyer and teammate David Ragan earlier in the season to give them a boost.
And if the above scenario happens, the future for MWR is unknown. The team is currently hoping to re-sign Aaron’s, who has been a long-time affiilate of Waltrip’s. It would also need to make a decision on a driver of the No. 55, which will be piloted by Ragan for the rest of the year after Brian Vickers was sidelined with health issues.
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Nick Bromberg is the editor of From The Marbles on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter!
