Former NASCAR Cup Series team owner and renowned businessman George Gillett, Jr. passed away on Tuesday, September 22, at the age of 87. According to The Vail Daily newspaper, Gillett passed away at a memory care facility in Denver, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s.
In the NASCAR industry, Gillett was known for his short stint as an owner at NASCAR’s highest level, purchasing a controlling stake in Evernham Motorsports in August 2007 from team founder Ray Evernham to form Gillett Evernham Motorsports.
Under the identity of Gillett Evernham Motorsports (GEM), which the team held through the final 15 races of 2007 until the end of 2008, the organization went to Victory Lane twice with Kasey Kahne behind the wheel of the No. 9 Budweiser Dodge – including the 2008 Coca-Cola 600 and the NASCAR All-Star Race.
In 2009, Gillett Evernham Motorsports merged with Petty Enterprises to form Richard Petty Motorsports, where Kahne went on to win an additional two events at Sonoma Raceway and Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Gillet sold his share of the NASCAR Cup Series organization at the end of 2010.
Aside from his time in NASCAR, Gillett also invested in several other sports ventures, including former ownership of the Miami Dolphins, Harlem Globetrotters, and the Montreal Canadiens, and was Chairman of the Liverpool Football Club from February 2007 to October 2010.
