DEI finds perfect partner in deal with Ginn Racing

Paul Menard and his Midwest-based sponsor are now assured of racing at Indy after taking the points earned by Sterling Marlin. Matthew O'Haren/Icon SMI

Two months after Dale Earnhardt Jr. rocked DEI to its core by announcing he was leaving, the organization is stronger than ever.

Teresa Earnhardt, Max Siegel and John Story, DEI's executive management team, have constructed the turnaround story of the year in NASCAR and, perhaps, all of American sports.

Their crowning achievement was this week's merger with Ginn Racing, the second strategic alliance made by DEI since Earnhardt Jr. departed. The deal comes on the heels of a newly-formed partnership with Richard Childress Racing in an engine-building enterprise, an effort that combined financial resources and expertise from both organizations.

With Ginn, DEI achieved its goal of expanding into a four-team operation by adding the No. 01, 10th in Nextel Cup owner points and, crucially, the 30th-place points of the No. 14 of Sterling Marlin, which will be transferred to the No. 15 of Paul Menard.

In one masterful move, DEI went from two cars guaranteed of starting positions in Sunday's Brickyard 400 to four.

Menard had been 39th and faced the daunting challenge of having to qualify on time every race the rest of the season. He's missed six of 19 races this season, a serious detriment for a 26-year-old rookie who needs laps in the crucible of Cup racing.

The Brickyard is particularly important to Menard, whose car is sponsored by his father John's home improvement stores of the same name. Menard's base is the upper Midwest, and there are a cluster of stores in the Indianapolis area. It is not a race the No. 15 could afford to miss.

The No. 15 has a 304-point lead over the new 36th-place car in the owner points, the No. 22 driven by Dave Blaney, which should guarantee Menard a top-35 finish this season and a spot in next year's Daytona 500. Menard didn't make it in February.

DEI also added a valuable asset in Mark Martin, who will share the No. 01 with rookie Aric Almirola, recently released from Joe Gibbs, the rest of the season.

Martin is one of the most respected drivers in NASCAR history and, at age 48, remains competitive. He brings leadership, a mentoring ability to the young stable of drivers and the knowledge of what it takes to win to DEI.

Before the merger, DEI was already having a successful season with Martin Truex Jr. and Earnhardt Jr. in contention for the Chase.

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