Smoke Signals: Stewart In Talks To Leave JGR for Haas CNC
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Stewart In Talks To Leave Joe Gibbs
Racing For Haas CNC Racing In '09 |
NASCAR driver Tony Stewart is "working on the final stages of a deal to move" from Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) to Haas CNC Racing for the '09 season, according to sources cited by Tom Bowles of SI.com. As part of the deal, Stewart would acquire partial ownership in Haas CNC. Stewart likely would assume either Haas' No. 66 or No. 70 Sprint Cup Series entries, currently driven by a variety of drivers. Haas PR Manager Ron Mench said that "there's been no communication between Stewart" and the organization. Stewart's contract with JGR expires after the '09 season, and Stewart's PR spokesperson Mike Arning said, "I know for a fact that JGR is interested in retaining Tony for [2010] and beyond. They'd like him to retire at [JGR]." A source said that the situation is "not that Stewart's unhappy or that there's internal dissension; it's that he's in need of a new challenge." JGR Owner Joe Gibbs and Stewart "will be friends for life, but they've been together for a decade, and some type of change is in order." Bowles noted being part-owner of a team gives Stewart the "freedom to pursue other interests, such as trying to go back and win" the Indy 500. It is unknown whether Stewart's primary sponsor The Home Depot or crew chief Greg Zipadelli also will join Haas, but those decisions "will surely come within the next few months" (SI.com, 4/23).
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J.D. Gibbs Says Stewart Will Race
Through '09 Season With JGR |
WILL HE STAY OR WILL HE GO? Sources said that Stewart told JGR officials that he would "like to be released from the final year" of his contract. JGR President J.D. Gibbs: "He definitely has some options. To me it's no different than any of the options he's had before. The reality is he's racing here through 2009. There's no ifs, ands or buts about that one. Our stance is he's racing for us through 2009." ESPN.com's Marty Smith noted a move to Haas would reunite Stewart with Chevrolet, and sources said that that "was of the utmost importance to [Stewart]." Stewart has driven GM his entire career until JGR switched from Chevy to Toyota this year, and GM also sponsors Stewart's open-wheel sprint car program. Haas GM Joe Custer said that he has "spoken with several people about the future status of his team, including Stewart's group," and Custer was "adamant that his team has reached no deal with Stewart." But Custer added Haas would "by all means be interested in discussing a partnership with a driver of his caliber" (ESPN.com, 4/23).
REAX: FOXSPORTS.com's Jeff Hammond wrote, "I can't believe that if Tony wanted an ownership deal that Joe Gibbs and J.D. Gibbs wouldn't entertain keeping him there as a partner, especially since they are looking to start a fourth team." Hammond: "I'm a little bit mystified. ... I don't see Tony Stewart fitting in anywhere as perfectly as he does at [JGR] right now" (FOXSPORTS.com, 4/23). ESPN’s Dale Jarrett said he was not “totally surprised” Stewart would want to make a move. Jarrett: "As we get older as drivers we start looking at other options. Tony is getting to that point.” But ESPN's Smith said Stewart has "always come back to Gibbs and that’s one thing that (J.D. Gibbs) told me ... that if they do their job, they feel like he will be enticed to come back (“NASCAR Now,” ESPN2, 4/23). FOXSPORTS.com's Lee Spencer wrote many drivers "test the waters by interviewing with other teams to determine what the market will bear." Spencer wrote with "silly season starting earlier and earlier -- and in this case a full 20 months earlier -- Stewart will control his destiny rather than getting zonked" (FOXSPORTS.com, 4/23).
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