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Report: Michael Waltrip Racing majority owner Rob Kauffman close to buying into Chip Ganassi Racing

Rob Kauffman

A major shakeup in the ownership ranks involving Michael Waltrip Racing and Chip Ganassi Racing may be close at hand.

A report by SportsBusinessDaily.com, citing “multiple industry sources,” states that majority owner Rob Kauffman is close to purchasing Felix Sabates’ minority ownership share in Chip Ganassi Racing. By doing so, Kauffman would end his affiliation with Michael Waltrip Racing.

Sabates told Motorsport.com on Wednesday “I am not going anywhere. I am having too much fun. Plus, I have unfinished business. I need to sit at the (champion’s) table in Las Vegas.’'

SportsBusinessDaily.com reports that Kauffman would take the No. 15 team of Clint Bowyer’s with him to Chip Ganassi Racing, joining the teams of Jamie McMurray and Kyle Larson. Such a move would leave MWR with one team and without Kauffman’s financial backing.

What that means for MWR is unclear. The team could go forward alone, form an alliance with another team, on merge with another team.

Kauffman purchased majority control of MWR eight years ago.

There has been no comment from either Chip Ganassi Racing or Michael Waltrip Racing on the SportsBusinessDaily.com report.

If the deal goes through, Ganassi would remain majority owner, according to the SportsBusinessDaily.com report, but it’s unclear if Sabates would retain ownership in the team.

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