When Chip Ganassi bought 80% of Felix Sabates’ Team SABCO operation, little did fans know they would see a racing empire be created in NASCAR. And despite the team not crossing 20 Cup Series wins in its two decades, the impact it left was clear. Cup Series Champions were made here. Just ask Kyle Larson. But when Justin Marks came calling with an offer too good to refuse, Ganassi’s stance of ‘The team wasn’t for sale’ changed. Now, four years after Ganassi’s exit, could he be convinced of returning to the sport by two of its legends?
Let’s make one thing clear, Ganassi wasn’t out of racing, as he emphasised at the time of the sale. “I’m not out of racing — I’m just out of NASCAR. I still have an IndyCar team. I still have an IMSA sports car team. I still have a Formula E team. I had an offer that I was required to consider.”
And with Kevin Harvick and Dale Earnhardt Jr. working together to elevate short-track racing, sharing the broadcast booth and co-owning the CARS Tour, could Ganassi be conceived to return?
Speaking on Kevin Harvick‘s Happy Hour, Chip Ganassi made his perspective clear. “Of course, I would. I would never say never. I would probably want some people like when you and Dale Jr. decided to get back in, you let me know come with you. I would want somebody else to help shoulder the responsibility of it. I just couldn’t do it the way I like to go racing. I like to have, whether it’s proper financial backing, having the proper people, driving the cars, working on the cars, and I like to be involved. I’m not one of these owners that sits up in the suite eating and drinking. I’m down in the pit lane with the team and it was just hard for me to do that in NASCAR.” Ganassi said.
Would Chip Ganassi ever get back into #NASCAR? He tells @KevinHarvick he would “never say never.” pic.twitter.com/eajL3mY5Fz
— HarvickHappyHour (@HarvickHappyPod) May 23, 2025
It’s no surprise Ganassi doesn’t want to go at it alone. The logistics of running a NASCAR team have grown increasingly complex. The sport’s escalating costs, technological demands, and need for top-tier personnel require significant resources. In the Next-Gen, running a Cup Series car costs $18 million, and that’s just for the car. Running other departments costs extra. Making a profit becomes difficult for owners at certain points. That’s not all. With Ganassi’s ownership in the different racing series, managing a team all by himself becomes difficult. We saw that in 2020 when Ganassi was overworked, and when Marks came calling with an offer, the team-owner went for it.
But why does Ganassi want to partner with Dale Jr.? Well, let’s go back to the Daytona 500. When JR Motorsports and Justin Allgaier entered the race, it was the first step in fulfilling Junior’s Cup Series ambitions. But even he was cautious about entering alone, especially with mounting costs. Talking to Harvick just a little while ago, he revealed, “You’ve got to get licensed and got to enter the car, pay the money, the entry fee, all that good stuff. But it was pretty much an understandable challenge. Today, to just get out there and compete, you need that $50 million charter, and that charter is going to be $100 million and $150 million and $200 million. It’s going to go to the moon over the next several years…They’re just going up. But for somebody who’s trying to get in? You can’t play unless you’ve got a big entity behind you. Somebody with real cash.”
And while Harvick has partnered with Rackley W.A.R. for the Truck Series, could a Cup Series entry be on the cards? Well, looking at the NASCAR legends’ work on the CARS Tour, it can work. Looking at the way things worked for Legacy Motor Club with Jimmie Johnson, the trio may have to find a financial backer, especially since, unlike LMC, they will have to make their entry into the series from the ground up.
Harvick and Junior have some experience building racing from the ground up, don’t they?
Kevin Harvick and Dale Jr.: Champions of grassroots racing revival
Kevin Harvick and Dale Earnhardt Jr. are more than NASCAR legends. They are champions of grassroots racing. Together, they co-own the CARS Tour, a series gaining national attention. Their hands-on involvement, especially by Dale Jr., brings credibility and excitement to every event.
Harvick and Dale Jr. believe in building from the ground up. They see grassroots racing as the heart of NASCAR’s future. Their vision is clear: nurture young drivers and keep racing authentic. Their efforts have sparked renewed interest in short-track racing. National TV coverage and packed stands show the impact. Fans and drivers alike appreciate the focus on real racing. Their work at the All-Star weekend showed their effort.
Other NASCAR stars have noticed. Denny Hamlin recently praised the CARS Tour’s growth and the role of its co-owners. “It’s great to see the job that Justin [Marks], Jeff [Burton], and Dale [Earnhardt Jr.] have done with the CARS Tour to keep this thing promoting and keep growing it. It’s going to be fantastic to see,” Hamlin said.
Even Mark Martin chimed in, saying, “Everyone loved the @CARSTour race last night @FloRacing @FS1 Congratulations @DaleJr and @KevinHarvick on a great job. Absolutely great racing It just shows you don’t have to have 60 lead changes to have a great race and fans to love it.”
By backing the CARS Tour, Harvick and Dale Jr. are shaping the next generation. They prove that grassroots racing still matters. Their passion is helping to keep the sport’s roots alive. What new heights can grassroots racing reach with their continued support? The future looks bright.
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