Montreal Canadiens owner George Gillett told the [St Petersburg] Times on Thursday there is a “95% chance” his purchase into Evernham Motorsports will be final by today or Monday at the latest. Gillett, 67, who has had stakes or complete control of the Harlem Globetrotters, Miami Dolphins and currently the Liverpool Football Club, would not divulge his percentage of ownership, but Ray Evernham has stated in the past it would be a majority.

Gillett, whose net worth was estimated at $250-million in 2006. Gillett also owns a series of organic and natural foods companies, ski resorts and car dealerships. The Wisconsin native said he had been interested in acquiring part of a NASCAR team for three years but was seeking the right partner and “we weren’t interested in just coming in and bringing money.” He found his partner and a jovial friendship with Evernham, 49, who won three championships and 47 races as Jeff Gordon’s crew chief, but had struggled recently to field a competitive team as costs skyrocketed.

“We’ve got some fairly novel ideas that Ray’s been developing and we’ve been developing together,” Gillett said. “It’s fair to say Ray’s primary emphasis and time commitment will be on the racing side.”

“My partnership with Gillett is not about needing money,” Evernham said. “It’s about growing this company.”

St. Petersburg Times