By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief
HOMESTEAD, Fla. – Chip Ganassi sees the relationship between his team and fellow NASCAR team owner Rick Hendrick’s only improving as they move forward.
Hendrick Motorsports has supplied engines to Chip Ganassi Racing since the 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. However, after Stewart-Haas Racing elected to move from Chevrolet to Ford, which is set to start in 2017, it terminated the alliance built up between SHR and Hendrick.
This situation led to speculation that CGR may become even more closely affiliated with the 11-time NASCAR Sprint Cup championship winning organization given their long history with Chevrolet.
“I think we’ve always had a good relationship with Hendrick Motorsports and that relationship continues to get better every single day,” Ganassi said.
2016 marked the first time in the organization’s history that both of its drivers made the Chase for the Sprint Cup in the same year – with both Jamie McMurray and Kyle Larson advancing in the 10 race playoff. Although McMurray has made the Chase before, it was the first time for Larson, who also collected the first win of his Sprint Cup career in the Pure Michigan 400 in August.
Needless to say, the progression has Ganassi satisfied to the point of extending his deal with Hendrick.
“We just re-signed for a few years there so we are pretty happy,” Ganassi added. “I see our relationship doing nothing but getting better over there.”
