Chip Ganassi Racing gets unexpected 'turnout' as fans rush for the 'CGR garage sale'

Chip Ganassi Racing has launched a garage sale and a toy drive in celebration of the holiday season. The race team is thrilled with the 'turnout' and thanked everyone who joined the program.

Founded in 1990, Chip Ganassi Racing is an American race team competing in series like the IndyCar Series and IMSA. CGR also raced in NASCAR starting in the 2000s but only ran for two decades, fielding drivers like Kyle Larson and Ross Chastain.

CGR took to X (formerly Twitter) and shared some moments during its first-ever garage sale.

"What a turnout!" the team wrote.

The team reassured the donated toys would be handed to the YMCA of Greater Indianapolis, saying:

"Thank you to everyone that joined us today for our garage sale and toy drive. We have HUNDREDS of toys on the way to @ymcaindy."

During the garage sale, the team sold various motorsports-related items including racecar parts like IndyCar front wings and suspension. Buyers were also offered with race suits and helmets.

Part of the garage sale was the YMCA Toy Drive, a charity program allowing individuals to donate toys for children in need this holiday season.

Aside from the products, buyers saw Chip Ganassi Racing cars displayed for viewing pleasure. While most cars were from the IndyCar Series, the team displayed the No. 42 Clover Chevrolet and the No. 1 Bass Pro Shops car.

While this may be CGR's first garage sale, Director of Operations Mike O'Gara told FOX59 the team would consider doing it again in the future.

Chip Ganassi Racing sold the NASCAR team to Trackhouse Racing in 2021. The team is co-owned by former NASCAR driver Justin Marks and American rapper Pitbull.

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Chip Ganassi once shared with Dale Earnhardt Jr. why he sold the team

During an episode of the Dale Jr. Download last year, former NASCAR team owner Chip Ganassi told Dale Earnhardt Jr. why he sold the team to Justin Marks.

While Dale Jr. speculated that NASCAR suspending Ganassi for violating a COVID-19 protocol influenced his decision to leave the sport, the former team owner said Marks simply asked to buy the team even though it wasn't for sale.

Ganassi said:

"It's not like the team was for sale. It wasn't for sale [...] I'm sitting there and he calls me up, and he said, 'Hey, I'd like to buy your team.'" [6:43]

He wasn't planning on selling Chip Ganassi Racing at first. However, the fact that it was the first time someone asked to buy the team made him reconsider his decision.

"But I started thinking about it, and then I remember thinking to myself, you know, I had that team for 20 years, and you know... up and down, and up and down, and up and down, and I just remember thinking to myself self, in 20 years, no one's ever called and said they wanted to buy it."

The former NASCAR team owner added:

"I thought, 'Man I should look at this.' [...] I got to look at it if somebody wanted to buy it."

Following the team acquisition in 2021, Trackhouse Racing competed in the Cup Series with Daniel Suarez and Ross Chastain.

For the 2025 season, the team will expand to three cars with the addition of Shane van Gisbergen in the No. 88 Chevrolet Camaro.