NASCAR Cup
Ganassi: 'Never say never' to NASCAR return but...
Honda and Alex Palou would be attractive in the Cup Series
Matt Weaver
Edited: Aug 26, 2025, 7:51 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Chip Ganassi
Photo by: Penske Entertainment
Never say never but Chip Ganassi more than likely isn’t back in the market for a NASCAR Cup Series ownership charter.
It’s a reasonable question given the 20 years that Ganassi spent in the highest levels of American Stock Car competition but also because his current engine supplier in the NTT IndyCar Series is Honda -- which is currently considering an option to join the Cup Series in the years ahead.
Should Honda join the Cup Series, NASCAR also has an option within the charter system that governs the discipline, to release additional ownership charters into the market. Ganassi sold his program and charters to Trackhouse Racing after the 2021 season but still knows his way around too.
“Am I open to it, I wouldn’t say ‘yes’ or ‘no,’ but what I can tell you is that I haven’t had that conversation with Honda,” Ganassi said during a Tuesday press conference to a question asked by Motorsport.com. “I have never had that conversation with NASCAR but I am also smart enough to never say never.”
Ganassi has 20 Cup Series wins and 24 Xfinity Series wins, including the Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400, and has reached victory lane with the likes of Sterling Marlin, Juan Pablo Montoya, Kurt Busch, Jamie McMurray and Kyle Larson.
His IndyCar success has continued since his exit from NASCAR with four championships with driver Alex Palou in 2021, 2023, 2024 and 2025. Palou 28, has reportedly drawn interest from the Red Bull F1 team but has Ganassi ever contemplated what his road course racing ace and Indianapolis 500 winner could do driving a Cup Series car that is more similar to an Indy Car than ever before?
The Shane Van Gisbergen comparison, a road specialist, who won four times this year for Trackhouse is such an easy comparison.
“You’re onto something there, so the answer is yes (I have considered how good Palou could be in NASCAR) because the formula has changed since I was there,” Ganassi said. “It is a formula that does lend itself to the kind of racing we do and the kind of engineering we do, that we’re good at.
“So the answer to that is yes, but I have not had any of those discussions or given it much thought.”
But again, never say never.
Read Also:
NASCAR CupNASCAR signals intent to transfer disputed charter
IndyCarChip Ganassi shuts down Alex Palou and Red Bull F1 rumors as "clickbait"
NASCAR CupNASCAR and Hendrick's Rudy Fugle address Daytona ejection
NASCAR Cup23XI, Front Row claim NASCAR charter transfer 'runs us out of business'
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article NASCAR and Hendrick's Rudy Fugle address Daytona ejection
Next article Several teams to run tribute decals for Zach Yager after NASCAR crew member's passing
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Matt Weaver
There will be even less drag in Cup cars at Talladega on Sunday
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup
Talladega II
9 h
There will be even less drag in Cup cars at Talladega on Sunday
NASCAR Cup title contenders living on a prayer at Talladega
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup
Talladega II
14 h
NASCAR Cup title contenders living on a prayer at Talladega
NASCAR plans to modify Phoenix dogleg to lessen driver loads
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup
Phoenix II
17 h
NASCAR plans to modify Phoenix dogleg to lessen driver loads
More from
Alex Palou
IndyCar set to drop Nashville Superspeedway and D.C. for 2027; Barcelona announcement looms
IndyCar
IndyCar
IndyCar set to drop Nashville Superspeedway and D.C. for 2027; Barcelona announcement looms
Five-time IndyCar champion, first-time Indy NXT driver: Alex Palou tops IMS road course test
Indy NXT
Indy NXT
Five-time IndyCar champion, first-time Indy NXT driver: Alex Palou tops IMS road course test
More from
Chip Ganassi Racing
Barnes: Why IndyCar’s updated licensing system fails its own integrity test
IndyCar
IndyCar
Barnes: Why IndyCar’s updated licensing system fails its own integrity test
Alex Palou to drive Indy NXT machinery in Chris Griffis Memorial Test at IMS
IndyCar
IndyCar
Alex Palou to drive Indy NXT machinery in Chris Griffis Memorial Test at IMS
Niels Koolen makes switch to Abel Motorsports ahead of 2027 Indy NXT campaign
Indy NXT
Indy NXT
Niels Koolen makes switch to Abel Motorsports ahead of 2027 Indy NXT campaign
Latest news
Carson Hocevar says Zane Smith feud is "pretty one-sided"
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Talladega II
1 h
Carson Hocevar says Zane Smith feud is "pretty one-sided"
Jack Miller says Australian GP cancellation “tough to swallow”: “It is pissing me off”
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Australian GP
1 h
Jack Miller says Australian GP cancellation “tough to swallow”: “It is pissing me off”
Max Verstappen reacts to COTA boss: "He can drive my car, after five laps he won't be able to walk"
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
United States GP
2 h
Max Verstappen reacts to COTA boss: "He can drive my car, after five laps he won't be able to walk"
Sammy Smith just pulled off a rare Talladega feat not seen in over twenty years
NASCAR O'Reilly
NOAP NASCAR O'Reilly
Talladega II
2 h
Sammy Smith just pulled off a rare Talladega feat not seen in over twenty years
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe