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CUP: Best Off-Track Moves Of 2010
‘Boys, have at it,’ signings by Chip Ganassi, Rick Hendrick among the top moves...
Jeff Owens  | http://www.scenedaily.com  |  Posted December 21, 2010   Charlotte, NC
NASCAR Vice President of Competition Robin Pemberton speaks to the media during the NASCAR Media Day in Concord, North Carolina. (Photo: LAT Photographic)
As always, there were some great moves on the track in 2010, leading to some exciting races and thrilling finishes.

But there also were some brilliant moves off the track, and some of them also led to exciting racing and thrilling finishes. Some of them helped improve the competition on the track while others put drivers and teams in positions to excel.

There were those that simply put the sport in the spotlight, attracting plenty of exposure for its drivers and teams. And others were big moves that could, and should, pay big dividends in the near future.

Here’s a look at the best moves off the track in 2010:

1. Boys have at it – When NASCAR announced in January that it was loosening the reins on drivers, its self-policing policy led to furious action on the track, with driver after driver mixing it up and leading to more fireworks than fans have seen in years. NASCAR officials refrained from severely penalizing drivers when they had run-ins on the track, leading to several exciting confrontations and controversies that stirred up controversy and gave fans and the media something to talk about.

2. Chip Ganassi re-signs Jamie McMurray – When Earnhardt Ganassi Racing signed McMurray to return to its organization after the 2009 season, it seemed like a desperate move for both. McMurray had been released by Roush Fenway Racing and had no ride; team co-owner Ganassi needed a driver to replace departing Martin Truex Jr., and had few viable options. This was a marriage of convenience – one that worked out in a big way. Neither could have imagined the success McMurray would have in EGR’s No. 1 car. McMurray won the two biggest races of the season – the Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400 at Indy – and added a career-high third win at Charlotte in October. The win at Indy gave Ganassi a sweep of the biggest American auto races – the Daytona 500, the Indy 500 and the Brickyard 400. Though McMurray finished a disappointing 14th in points, it was the biggest season of his career and the best for Ganassi since he ventured into NASCAR.

3. Hendrick Motorsports signs Kasey Kahne – Rick Hendrick has been a master at developing and acquiring top drivers. He pulled off another coup in April when he announced that he had signed the talented Kahne to replace Mark Martin in 2012. Though Kahne must spend 2011 at Red Bull Racing, he is expected to give Hendrick another driver capable of winning multiple races each year and contending for championships. For Kahne, the move from Richard Petty Motorsports to Hendrick looks like the biggest move of his career.

4. JR Motorsports signs Danica Patrick – Though Patrick struggled to adapt to stock cars – managing just one top-20 finish in 13 Nationwide Series races – she did what everyone expected, drawing immeasurable exposure for NASCAR and the Nationwide Series. Patrick’s every move was followed early in the season and she and the team – and its sponsors – attracted widespread media exposure even when she struggled. Patrick’s experiment with stock cars actually generated exposure for both NASCAR and the IndyCar Series as the story of her future continues to be a hot topic.
Danica Patrick’s presence in NASCAR has given a much-needed ratings boost to the NASCAR Nationwide Series. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

5. Hendrick makes sweeping crew chief changes – The season was barely over when Rick Hendrick made a shocking move, pairing drivers Jeff Gordon, Mark Martin and Dale Earnhardt Jr. with different crew chiefs and crews for 2011. Though it remains to be seen how the moves will work, Hendrick needed to make a major change after all three drivers failed to win a race in 2010 and Martin and Earnhardt Jr. both missed the Chase. The moves could pay big dividends for all three drivers in 2011 and help Hendrick Motorsports continue to be the sport’s top organization.


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Jeff Owens

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