[bears9]

Dario Franchitti's much-anticipated move to stock cars will begin Friday with an ARCA race at Talladega Superspeedway, the Associated Press has learned.

The 2007 Indy 500 winner and IndyCar Series champion has agreed to a multiyear deal to replace David Stremme in the No. 40 Dodge for NASCAR's Chip Ganassi Racing, according to a person familiar with the negotiations who requested anonymity because the deal had yet to be announced.

An official announcement is expected Wednesday at Ganassi's race shop in North Carolina. Ganassi also fields Nextel Cup cars for rookie Juan Pablo Montoya, another former open-wheel star, and Reed Sorenson.
Ganassi said Sunday at Kansas Speedway that he was close to a deal with Franchitti's open-wheel team, Andretti Green Racing, to get the 34-year-old Scot out of his contract, which ends Dec. 1.
An Andretti Green spokesman said the team would have no comment on Franchitti's move at this time. In an interview shortly after he won the IndyCar championship, Franchitti answered the speculation about a possible switch to stock cars by saying, "NASCAR would be something different ... something I haven't done. Apart from Formula One, it's probably one of the few things I haven't driven. So that would be one of the reasons to look at that." Franchitti is expected to get some much-needed seat time in stock cars by running a series of races, including ARCA, Busch and Cup, before the end of this season, much as Montoya did in 2006 after leaving Formula One.

[Souporscotty]

YAWN

[NASCAR Gnome]

Yeah, I spoke to the "Godfather" today (Dave Moody) about this on his radio show on Sirius and what I asked of him was to MAKE SURE he interviews Mr. Franchitti's WIFE and NOT Dario! Who really CARES about Franchitti? C'mon now, it's ASHLEY we all are looking forward to seeing and not the Scotsman... Heck, dude's just another DRIVER... BFD... but how many people can say they're married to a legit MOVIE STAR?!?

Rain delays will take on a whole new meaning in NASCAR next year!

[bears9]

Ya I won't be pump about Dario until he is in the 500 next year

[jks812]

At least Ganassi has enough sense to put him in the ARCA race and not the cup.

[bears9]

Originally Posted by jks812

At least Ganassi has enough sense to put him in the ARCA race and not the cup.

I bet He'll be running a Busch race soon

[simple simon]

he should go straight to Cup ..... soon the Cup series will be dominated by such drivers

Montoya - Franchetti - Villenueve .... they can all make the chase next year .... which in turn will bring in more open wheel drivers

[Quality88]

Originally Posted by bears9

Ya I won't be pump about Dario until he is in the 500 next year

You'll get your chance. Ganassi signed him to drive the #40 next year.

[bears9]

Originally Posted by Quality88

You'll get your chance. Ganassi signed him to drive the #40 next year.

I know I know

[bears9]

Franchetti's No. 42 Target Dodge finished 19th in the ARCA today at Talladega, Micheal Anett won Erin Crockett finished 16th

[Jeffrey4318]

Not to nitpick but...Franchetti didn't make his Nascar debut this weekend.

[bears9]

Originally Posted by Jeffrey4318

Not to nitpick but...Franchetti didn't make his Nascar debut this weekend.

I know i meant to put stock car when I made the thread