Jeff Ward, 360fly join Chip Ganassi Rallycross - MotorSportsTalk

Meet the new Chip Ganassi Racing Rallycross driver… same as an old Chip Ganassi Racing IndyCar driver.

Jeff Ward, along with new partner 360fly, have joined the team to debut at Daytona. The full release is below:

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Chip Ganassi Racing Teams, Inc. (CGRT) announced today a partnership with 360fly, the category creator in 360-degree digital video products, on their two entries in Red Bull Global Rallycross (GRC). 360fly will be the primary partner on the team’s No. 38 Ford Fiesta for the doubleheader in Daytona on June 20-21 as well as the race in Washington, DC on Aug. 15 with former Target Chip Ganassi Racing INDYCAR driver Jeff Ward behind the wheel.

In addition, 360fly will be the primary partner on Steve Arpin’s No. 00 Ford Fiesta for the 2015 X Games June 4-7 and subsequent to that will remain as an associate partner on the car for the remainder of the GRC season.

Steve Lauletta, President, Chip Ganassi Racing Teams: “We believe that GRC is the perfect fit for a tech company like 360fly. The fan base is made up of millennials that are on the constant lookout for the newest and coolest technology. We think that 360fly fits that bill perfectly. The type of content 360fly can create should prove to be a big hit with the GRC fan. We are pleased to have them on board.”

Peter Adderton, CEO, 360fly: “We are not only excited about partnering with Chip Ganassi Racing on the Global Rallycross, but we are equally excited about the content access we will get in their other motorsports programs like INDYCAR and NASCAR. These forms of racing are built to speak to young consumers where technology plays an integral role in their daily lives. We feel that our product is a ‘must have’ for these consumer to capture life as it comes at them and then easily transfer it to their favorite social media platform.”

Jeff Ward, Driver, Chip Ganassi Racing Teams: “I couldn’t be more thrilled to be back with Ganassi – even if it is for only a few races. I loved my time with the team back in 2002 and am looking forward to being around them again but this time in GRC. With the 360fly collaboration and the intense action of Rally racing, I can’t wait to see what action we capture from inside the car. I think the footage will resonate with my motocross and car fans alike. I can’t wait to get back behind the wheel.”

Three riders remain locked in a tight battle with 17 points separating the leader Cooper Webb from third-place Chase Sexton and these are only a few Supercross numbers to consider entering Seattle.

Seattle Supercross numbers — *Chase Sexton made a statement in Detroit with his second win of 2023. – Feld Motor Sports*

For the fifth time in 10 rounds. Sexton, Webb, and Eli Tomac shared the podium in Detroit. Between them, the trio has taken 23 podiums, leaving only seven for the remainder of the field. Jason Anderson, Ken Roczen and Justin Barcia have two each with Aaron Plessinger scoring the other.

Webb and Tomac won the last four championships with two apiece in alternating years, but they were not one another’s primary rival for most of those seasons. On the average, however, the past four years show an incredible similarity with average points earned of 21.0 for Webb and 21.3 for Tomac. With five wins so far this season, Tomac (23 wins) leads Webb (19) in victories but Webb (43) edges Tomac (41) in podium finishes during this span.

Tomac has won two of the last three Seattle races and those two wins in this stadium are topped only by James Stewart. Fittingly, if Tomac gets a third win this week, he will tie Stewart for second on the all-time wins’ list. Tomac tied Ricky Carmichael for third with 48 wins at Oakland and took sole possession of that spot with his Daytona win.

Sexton still has a lot to say and after winning last week in Detroit, he is speaking up. The Supercross numbers are against him entering Seattle, however, because a points’ deficit this large after Round 10 has been erased only once. In 1983 David Bailey was 47 points behind Bob Hannah, and like Sexton he was also in third place. Bailey took the points’ lead with one race remaining.

The seven points Sexton was penalized last week for jumping in a red cross flag section in Detroit could prove extremely costly.

In fact, it has been a series of mistakes that has cost Sexton the most. In the last two weeks, he lost 10 points with a 10th-place finish to go with his penalty. Erase those, and all three riders hold their fate in their hands.

Plessinger’s heartbreak in Detroit is still fresh, but the upside of his run is that was his best of the season and could turn his fortunes around. Prior to that race, he led only seven laps in three mains. He was up front for 20 laps in Detroit with five of those being the fastest on the track.

Last week’s win by Hunter Lawrence tied him with his brother Jett Lawrence for 17th on the all-time wins’ list. With the focus shifting to 250 West for the next two rounds, Jett has a great opportunity to pull back ahead. The real test will be at the first East / West Showdown in East Rutherford, New Jersey on April 22.

Last Five Seattle Winners

450s
2022: Eli Tomac
2019: Marvin Musquin
2018: Eli Tomac
2017: Marvin Musquin
2014: Ryan Villopoto

250s
2022: Hunter Lawrence
2019: Dylan Ferrandis
2018: Aaron Plessinger
2017: Aaron Plessinger
2014: Cole Seely

By the Numbers

Detroit
Indianapolis
Daytona
Arlington
Oakland
Tampa
Houston
Anaheim 2
San Diego

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Dylan Ferrandis may return before SX finale
SMX develops “Leader Lights”
Power Rankings after Detroit
Hunter Lawrence defends Haiden Deegan
Results and points after Detroit
Chase Sexton wins in Detroit, penalized seven points

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