Duchardt Named Chip Ganassi Racing’s Chief Operating Officer

By Seth Eggert, Staff Writer

Long-time motorsports racing executive Doug Duchardt will join Chip Ganassi Racing as the team’s new Chief Operating Officer effective immediately. Max Jones, who previously held that position has been promoted to the Managing Director of the teams’ NASCAR Operation, joining Mike Hull, the Managing Director of CGR’s INDYCAR operations.

Duchardt will work closely with both Managing Directors as well as team President Steve Lauletta. The ultimate goal is to increase collaboration, growth, and performance between CGR’s NASCAR, INDYCAR, and IMSA operations.

“We are all so pleased to get someone with both Doug’s racing credentials and his business acumen,” said team owner Chip Ganassi, via a team release. “He has a lot of racing championships under his belt and a strong track record for running successful businesses and has the respect of the racing industry. Doug will be a great addition to help lead what I think is already a very good group of people.”

Duchardt was most recently the Executive Vice President and General Manager of Hendrick Motorsports. While a part of Hendrick Motorsports, he helped lead Jimmie Johnson to five consecutive Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championships. Additionally, Duchardt spent 20 years with General Motors where he managed the entire North American motorsports initiatives including NASCAR, INDYCAR, NHRA, IMSA, and the SCCA.

“I am excited to become a part of Chip Ganassi Racing,” said Duchardt. “I, along with the rest of the industry have always admired Chip and what he does across so many forms of racing. What has been especially impressive of late has been the turnaround they have made in their NASCAR operation. I am also looking forward to competing in INDYCAR and IMSA once again. Along with Felix Sabates and Rob Kauffman, Chip has assembled a group of championship caliber people on each of his teams that I am looking forward to working with and helping them achieve even more success both on and off the track.”

Now Duchardt will attempt to lead Ganassi to a bigger and brighter future after the team narrowly missed championships in both NASCAR and INDYCAR last year.