HAMPTON, Ga. – Chip Ganassi of Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates made it official Friday at the Atlanta Motor Speedway that Kyle Larson will drive their No. 42 Target Chevrolet full-time in the Sprint Cup Series beginning next season.
Since EGR made it public that they would not be renewing current driver Juan Pablo Montoya’s contract, Larson had been penciled into the car. He’s currently driving for Turner Scott Motorsports in the Nationwide Series, sitting eighth in points entering the weekend. Ganassi said Friday that Larson will continue to run NNS races next season but will declare for championship points in the NSCS.
“Certainly we believe that Kyle is the future of the sport. He’s a unique talent,” Ganassi said during the announcement.
“Let me be very clear, this was a racing decision. We felt that Kyle was the best short-term and long-term fit for the team and for Target … Kyle was our first choice. We did not offer any deals to any other drivers. We talked to other drivers. We’re thrilled to have Kyle. Nothing he has done makes us feel he cannot move to the Sprint Cup Series.”
The 21-year-old champion of the K&N Pro Series East has made just 23 starts in the NNS but has yet to sit behind the wheel of a Cup car, other than a test weeks ago. Yet he has the backing of Cup drivers such as Ryan Newman and five-time champion Jimmie Johnson, both who believe Cup cars will suit Larson’s driving style. Larson said he expects to be fine in Cup and feels prepared for the upcoming season.
“I’m really excited, excited to be a part of the Target brand. Everybody knows the Target logo when they see it,” Larson said.
“It’s a pretty iconic car. I think I can do okay. There’s going to be some growing pains, I’m sure. I think I’ll learn a lot and I’ll grow as a driver and mature as a person.”
Ganassi doesn’t believe Larson will get behind the wheel of the 42 car this season, but wasn’t counting out of the possibility of him running a different car, perhaps the newly purchased 51 car by Harry Scott Jr., who co-owns Larson’s NNS car. With Jamie McMurray’s contract being extended, there will be no other changes at EGR with Larson expected to work with current Target crew chief Chris Heroy.
As for Montoya, whether he stays in NASCAR or finds a home in another form of motorsports has yet to be determined. Ganassi called him a friend while noting what he’s contributed to the organization over the years. Not counting out the possibility of working with Montoya in the future.
The NASCAR future for EGR however, features Larson.
“His level of mature approaching the racing, of the race itself,” said Ganassi about what he saw in Larson. “It looks sometimes like he’s back there in 10th or 12th, but always seems to be in the top five at the end. I think that’s a good thing.”
As for expectations, Larson and Ganassi didn’t put a number on it. But the team owner likes what he’s seen so far from the young driver in everything else that he’s race and feels there will be more of the same in the coming year.
“There’s an opportunity here. He’s a great driver,” Ganassi said.
“He’s obviously the number one pick, as said by many other people besides myself. Nobody deserves a shot more than he does.”
