Stewart Explores New Options Away From Gibbs Racing
Nascar
Greg Sjovall
Issue date: 4/29/08 Section: Sports
Never far removed from the spotlight, Tony Stewart once again found himself at the center of attention this past week in NASCAR.
The two-time former champion and mainstay at Joe Gibbs Racing, has had to field questions about rumors speculating that he may possibly leave the organization that he broke into the Sprint Cup with as a rookie driver back in 1999. In typical Stewart fashion, he has done nothing to diffuse to situation - in fact he has fanned the flames himself.
While Stewart is still one of the top drivers in NASCAR and will be a contender for the championship for years to come, as he grows older - he will be 37 this May - it is rumored that he is looking for more of an ownership role in racing's top series. Even though Stewart has ownership stake in some of the lower circuits in racing, it appears that he wants to have more front office control of his own organization or team in the Sprint Cup.
Since becoming a Sprint Cup driver, Stewart has only been about one thing and that is simply winning races and championships. He has his two championships in 2005 and 2007 and two Brickyard 400 victories - coincidentally in the same years. The only real thing that eludes him is a victory at the Daytona 500. So to say that his current affiliation with Joe Gibbs Racing is not as committed to winning as he is, just is not true.
With three of the top drivers in the circuit in Stewart, Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin, in addition to the move to Toyota powered cars this season, Gibbs Racing is still one of the most successful and active teams in the Sprint Cup. To think Stewart would want to leave this because he thinks he could be better off somewhere else does not make any sense.
Joe Gibbs has always had Stewart's back, amidst all the controversy that he has created throughout the years. There have been many times in the past when Stewart has done or said something where he could have found himself without a job and looking for a new team the next day. However, Gibbs has seen the good in Stewart and as he has matured through the years, the confidence and belief that Gibbs placed in him as a younger driver had been paying off.
The two-time former champion and mainstay at Joe Gibbs Racing, has had to field questions about rumors speculating that he may possibly leave the organization that he broke into the Sprint Cup with as a rookie driver back in 1999. In typical Stewart fashion, he has done nothing to diffuse to situation - in fact he has fanned the flames himself.
While Stewart is still one of the top drivers in NASCAR and will be a contender for the championship for years to come, as he grows older - he will be 37 this May - it is rumored that he is looking for more of an ownership role in racing's top series. Even though Stewart has ownership stake in some of the lower circuits in racing, it appears that he wants to have more front office control of his own organization or team in the Sprint Cup.
Since becoming a Sprint Cup driver, Stewart has only been about one thing and that is simply winning races and championships. He has his two championships in 2005 and 2007 and two Brickyard 400 victories - coincidentally in the same years. The only real thing that eludes him is a victory at the Daytona 500. So to say that his current affiliation with Joe Gibbs Racing is not as committed to winning as he is, just is not true.
With three of the top drivers in the circuit in Stewart, Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin, in addition to the move to Toyota powered cars this season, Gibbs Racing is still one of the most successful and active teams in the Sprint Cup. To think Stewart would want to leave this because he thinks he could be better off somewhere else does not make any sense.
Joe Gibbs has always had Stewart's back, amidst all the controversy that he has created throughout the years. There have been many times in the past when Stewart has done or said something where he could have found himself without a job and looking for a new team the next day. However, Gibbs has seen the good in Stewart and as he has matured through the years, the confidence and belief that Gibbs placed in him as a younger driver had been paying off.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
GetReal
posted 4/29/08 @ 5:40 PM EST
Get a clue. Gibbs switched to Toyota this year. Tony's other teams are partially sponsored by and power by Chevy. I believe that the whole move to Toyota really ticked off Tony and could potentially hurt his WoO & USAC teams. (Continued…)
JB
posted 4/29/08 @ 6:33 PM EST
Re: "Tony should consider what Joe Gobbs has done for him". I think he has, and has never shown any disrespect for Joe or anyone in the organization. He did say respectfully that he has not asked out of any contract. (Continued…)
Chicky
posted 4/29/08 @ 9:34 PM EST
I heard he has been talking to the Petty's about driving for them and being a part owner.
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