DARLINGTON, SC - SEPTEMBER 01: Ross Chastain, driver of the #42 DC Solar Chevrolet, leads Brad Keselowski, driver of the #22 Snap On Ford, during the NASCAR Xfinity Series Sport Clips Haircuts VFW 200 at Darlington Raceway on September 1, 2018 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images)
Chip Ganassi Racing pulls NASCAR Xfinity Series team after FBI raid on sponsor
Shane Walters
Ross Chastain was set for the best opportunity in his racing career; Now, he needs a new ride for 2019
In 2018, DC Solar CEO Jeff Carpoff talked Chip Ganassi into giving Ross Chastain a shot in one of his Xfinity Series machines. A handful of races later, the driver that comes from a family watermelon farmers had turned enough heads to get out the ink pen.
For 2019, Ross Chastain was set to finally climb into a competitive ride. He was signed at the full-time driver of the #42 machine.
A few months later, in December 2018, the home and business of DC Solar CEO Jeff Carpoff was raided by the FBI. Several items were seized in the raids.
The FBI has yet to make a statement on why exactly the raids took place. However, they have confirmed the raids.
Now, a few weeks after that news broke on the FBI raids, the #42 NASCAR Xfinity Series team is set to shut down.
Chip Ganassi Statement on the closing of the NASCAR Xfinity Series team
“Due to a lack of sponsorship funding we will cease operation of the No. 42 Xfinity team in 2019,” a statement from team owner Chip Ganassi read.
“This was a difficult decision for me to make and it comes with much anguish as this is a championship-caliber team (having won six races and finished second in the owners championship) and more importantly because it affects a number of good people’s livelihoods.”
“Running a car without proper funding is difficult to do.”
DC Solar is also a primary sponsor in the NASCAR Cup Series for Chip Ganassi Racing. Those teams will remain on the grid.