Reed Sorenson Is Going to Gillett Evernham—But What Car Will He Drive?

Just a couple of weeks ago, Reed Sorenson told the media that he and team owner Chip Ganassi were working on a contract extension.

Ah, how things change in such a short amount of time.

Today it was announced that Sorenson would be joining Gillett Evernham Motorsports beginning in 2009, leaving the team he's driven for since he was 17. GEM hasn't yet named Sorenson's car number or sponsor, but rumors have him replacing the struggling Patrick Carpentier.

"I'm pretty pumped up about this," the twenty two year old Georgia native said. He went on to say he "can't wait to get in their cars" and hopes to win a championship with his new team. Sorenson's now former boss, Felix Sabates, said on Friday that Sorenson "is as good as he's ever going to be" when asked about rumors coming out of Bristol that the young driver would leave the team after this season.

Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates has been a revolving door of drivers since 2005, including drivers like Sterling Marlin, Jamie McMurray, Casey Mears, David Stremme and most recently former Indianapolis 500 winner Dario Franchitti, whose team had to be shut down in July due to lack on sponsorship.

No word from CGR on whether or not Franchitti, who continues to driver for the team part time in the Nationwide Series, will pilot the #41 now that Sorenson has left. Also no word on if sponsor Target, is rumored to be leaving at the end of the season, will return.

Reed Sorenson began racing quarter midgets when he was six years old, winning his first national championship in 1997. The following year he moved up to Legends cars, winning 13 of 25 races that year, and two years later he won 30 of 50 events that he competed in.

Sorenson was just getting started, as he went on to win ASA rookie of the year in 2003, and signed that year with Chip Ganassi Racing. That's also the year he graduated from high school.  That's right, high school.

After winning his first ARCA race in 2004 with the team, was named driver of the #41 Target Dodge in 2005.

Win-less in Cup, Sorenson has been able to rack up five top fives and thirteen top tens, no to mention becoming the youngest pole winner at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, at just twenty one years old.