EGR and Front Row collaborate for 500

Earnhardt Ganassi Racing's fourth car in the Daytona 500 -- the No. 34 Chevrolet -- will actually involve a partnership with owner Bob Jenkins' Front Row Motorsports and one of its drivers, John Andretti.

Andretti

An EGR spokesman said the collaborative effort would be only for the Daytona 500, and that the car would be a guaranteed starter via points accrued in 2008 by one of EGR's cars that won't compete this season.

Those include the No. 01 and No. 15 that were fielded last season by Dale Earnhardt Inc. and the No. 41 fielded by Chip Ganassi Racing.

The No. 41 has been registered to Jeremy Mayfield in 2009 for his Mayfield Racing Enterprises, but the points didn't go with the number, according to a Mayfield spokesperson.

EGR this season will field full-season efforts for the Nos. 1, 8 and 42 Chevrolets. During Speedweeks, EGR's Steve Lane will be the crew chief for the No. 34 and EGR crewmen will be among those tending the car.

During the past five seasons, Jenkins and his son, Brad have fielded between one and three car numbers each year in the Cup Series, including the Nos. 34 and 37 cars the past two seasons. In that time the Front Row teams have made 52 races, but have never been guaranteed starters, except in the case of a rainout.

Andretti made three of the first 10 races he attempted with Front Row in 2008, including the Daytona 500. He had a best finish of 35th at Fontana in February. After the Richmond event in May he raced the rest of the season in the IRL, including the Indianapolis 500.