Chip Ganassi Racing Names New COO

Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images/NASCAR Media

Doug Douchardt has been named the new chief operating officer for Chip Ganassi Racing. He is placed in his position effective immediately. Max Jones has been promoted to managing director of the team's NASCAR XFINITY and Monster Energy Cup Series programs featuring drivers Jamie McMurray, Kyle Larson, and new for 2018, John Hunter Nemechek.

"We are all so pleased to get someone with both Doug's racing credentials and his business acumen," said Ganassi in the team release. "He has a lot of racing championships under his belt and a strong track record for running successful businesses and has the respect of the racing industry. Doug will be a great addition to help lead what I think is already a very good group of people."

Duchardt comes from Hendrick Motorsports where he operated as the president and general manager. He spent 12 years with the organization overseeing all four teams in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. The organization won seven MENCS titles under his leadership including six consecutive from 2006-11.

"I am excited to become a part of Chip Ganassi Racing," said Duchardt. "I, along with the rest of the industry have always admired Chip and what he does across so many forms of racing. What has been especially impressive of late has been the turnaround they have made in their NASCAR operation. I am also looking forward to competing in INDYCAR and IMSA once again. Along with Felix Sabates and Rob Kauffman, Chip has assembled a group of championship caliber people on each of his teams that I am looking forward to working with and helping them achieve even more success both on and off the track."

Both McMurray and Larson made it to the 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series playoffs both being eliminated in the second round. John Hunter Nemechek moves to a part-time role after competing in the truck series the last few seasons. (Koelle,2018)