Lackluster runs and insufficient sponsorship dollars have forced Earnhardt Ganassi Racing to shut down operations for the No. 8 team driven by Aric Almirola. In the first seven races of the 2009 season, Almirola and the No. 8 team have failed to finish in the top-20 and only finished in the top-30 twice. 

Wednesday’s announcement came with little surprise as sponsorship dollars are more and more difficult to come by these days. Performance is put at a premium and this team was simply unable to produce the results necessary to attract more sponsors. Slated to run his first full season in the Sprint Cup Series, Almirola’s hopes were cut short following the team’s decision. 

Team officials explained they will continue to seek sponsorship funding for the No. 8 and hope to get the team back on track before the end of the season, however with the economy continuing to struggle it will remain to be seen if this hope comes to fruition. 

Now with only two full-time Cup teams, the No. 42 driven by Juan Pablo Montoya and the No. 1 driven by Martin Truex Jr., EGR has the opportunity to focus more efficiently on getting these two cars running at the top of their game. Montoya and his No. 42 bunch have showed some promise as of late (two top-10s in the last three races), however Truex Jr. cannot say the same. After sitting on the pole for the season-opening Daytona 500, the Mayetta, N.J.-native has only one top-10 and three finishes of 25th or better in the first seven races.

Parking the No. 8 team less than two years after the departure of Dale Earnhardt Jr. speaks volumes to the struggles Dale Earnhardt Inc. and the subsequent Earnhardt Ganassi Racing have endured. Cutbacks, mergers and moving shops has put this team behind the eight-ball and forced them to play catch-up both on the race track and in the sponsor search.

Be sure to check back to HardcoreRaceFans.com for any further developments regarding Earnhardt Ganassi Racing and the No. 8 team.