Stewart interested in No 5 Hendrick ride
Quote selected text Published June 27th, 2008 in NASCAR News
Tony Stewart proclaimed his interest Friday in Hendrick Motorsports’ soon-to-be-vacated No. 5 Chevrolet, saying the removal of Casey Mears from that ride could alter his plans for 2009 and beyond.
Stewart has another year left on his contract with Joe Gibbs Racing but has expressed interest in partial ownership of another team. Reports have said the deal is done, with sponsors and drivers named.
But Stewart said that wasn’t the case, joking at New Hampshire Motor Speedway that there are some teams he has yet to talk to.
“I’ve still got two ARCA teams I’m talking to, a truck team and now the 5 car’s available,” Stewart said. “I’ve still got a lot of work to do.”
But Stewart wasn’t joking when asked if Hendrick’s No. 5 would be something he would be interested in.
“Absolutely, absolutely,” Stewart said. “You’ve got to. There’s nobody in this garage area that’s not going to look in that direction. You’ve got to look at that.”
The open seat could postpone any announcement involving his future, Stewart said.
“After today’s announcement, I don’t know, it may be pushed back even more now,” Stewart said. “We’ll wait and see. It’s however long it takes to make the right decision.”
Stewart dismissed reports about possible sponsors moving to Haas CNC Racing, where Stewart would supposedly go after buying into the team.
“I don’t even know who I’m driving for yet,” Stewart said. “It’s kind of hard to pick a sponsor when you don’t know who you’re driving for yet, don’t you think? It’s kind of like, which comes first, the chicken or the egg?”
And, of course, Stewart could remain with JGR. He is under contract with that team through 2009.
“There’s a lot of variables to look at still,” Stewart said. “We’ve got all the information, except for what’s happening today. The good news is we’ve got time to look. We’re going to have to make a decision at some point.”
- Roush has no interest in Kyle Busch
- Hendrick has no room on team for Earnhardt Jr.
- Hendrick denies interest in Dale Earnhardt, Jr?
- Stewart talks about his options in NASCAR
- Stewart could partner with JR Motorsports?
Tony Stewart could drive the #5 Hendrick Chevy for the next 5 years and own a piece of Haas-CNC Racing with two cars at the same time, in turn, making those two Haas CNC Racing cars much better and in the top 35 in points before Stewart jumps in to one of them, that would be a great move for Stewart.
Drivers: Ryan Newman and Martin Truex Jr. just to a name a few with Office Depot, UPS and Bass Pro Shop.
Perfect deal, just my opinion.
I hope not. 4 Great drivers all for one team? I know
they’re all competing individually but still. I’d prefer
all 4 to be on seperate teams, or even 2 and 2. 3 is enough.
Smokes interest in the 5 car is no different then Jr’s current interest in the 01 car, sure there is a possibility that it could happen, but when you look at reality it won’t.
I hope stewart doesnt do that, god that would be horrible
Fisha695 wrote:
I’m sorry which junior?
yeah, is there a rumor with Jr and the interest in the 01? I haven’t heard of one
Dale Jr, it was a sarcastic remark about how in today’s NASCAR team contracts seem to really mean nothing because any driver can get out of just about any team contract to go to another ride.
Just one of my pet peeves, you have a contract to race for ‘X’ team till ‘X’ year, so unless they fire you you should be racing for that team till your contract runs out with them.
oh so it was just a horrible joke?
okay then.
I dont know why Tony is leaving toyota- they are the future of the sport.
When Detroit finally crumbled you won’t really have a choice of manufacturer.
I’m a Genius!
Who sponsors the no. 5 car? Kellog’s
Who is the character of Kellog’s most popular cereal? Tony the Tiger
Can you say Tony Stewart will be driving the No. 5 Kellog’s Tony the Tiger car
Kellog’s isn’t a lock to return.
And I like the title of this article over on Jayski, and I think it captures what it truly is, and that is “Smoke” screen
Will Tony stay or go? Only time will tell but he is a helluva showman.
Of course this is a rouse. All drivers and owners all openly skirt the issues and tapdance around questions. For Tony to come out and straight up say he’s interested in the 5 car when he hasn’t openly said he wants out of JGR tells me this is smoke and mirrors.
Some of you fall for this crap…puh-lease.
You really can’t blame him for wanting to get away from shrub! He may not go to hendrick but he will leave JGR.
Can’t he keep the #20 and Home Depot if he moves to another team…?
I’M NOT CHANGING MY DECALS THAT ARE ALL OVER MY CAR. NOPE.
And he needs to get that #5 ride out of his head. now. Rick Hendrick can kiss my a**, he’s an arrogrant…. buttwipe. (can’t say what I think of him truly).
well if the fat greaser comes aboard…..WHOO HOOO say hello to the new nascar dream team!! I think that jr will have brad stay in the nation wide series for at least two years. at least thats been the track record so far.
Here is a quote that a member of another message board posted, and I think it’s pretty true.
“Tony shouldn’t go to the 5. It would be a “I want to be #1″ fight between the 4 drivers. HMS would have the best 4 drivers and the top 4 fan favorites, it wouldn’t work. The effect would work in reverse of what everyone would think. HMS would run worse and the team’s wouldn’t work together.”
Also Sushstewart20, he can keep the #20 and Home Depot, If he stays…. l0l 20 is a JGR Number and the only reason HD is with JGR is because of The teams relationship with the RedSkins.
Tony is blowing smoke up your butts, he has no intentions of going over to HMS, he just wants to see what he can get going. he hates the media and loves to mess with everyone.
Hate is such a strong word Howie….he may get irritated with the media but he doesn’t hate them. There are some he genuinely calls friends, Matt Yocum for example. I don’t think it would be good for Tony to go to HMS anyway he would not fit that image of clean cut, shirt tucked in etc. He would be MISERABLE. Yes love the Tony the Tiger but he can take Kellogg’s to his own team. I believe his own team is best because he won’t have to kiss anyone’s rear end and he would have to do so at HMS. That is not the Tony I know. He’s just toying with us all like a cat with its’ prey. That’s my Smoke! GO SMOKE GO! Proud to be a Hoosier just like you!
actually, looking at the timeline this could work… martin make his llast run at the championship next year, then when tony’s contract is up he heads to that post… could happen
Erin wrote:
In racing (and every business) no matter what position you are in you always have to kiss somebodies rear-end. And often times the higher up the ladder you are (including the top rung) you have to kiss the most.
Actually i would love to see him at JRM starting the new cup teams but that is probably a pipe dream because Pops isnt going to take any crap from anyone not even Tony Stewart.
Howie Motorsports Photography wrote:
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he even said there is nothing broken at JGR so there is nothing to fix..he will not go any where.
I have to say I agree with you on this one 100%..he has alway’s done this and alway’s will
Nobody thought Jr. would go to Hendrick, either…but we all know what the outcome was there. I bet it’ll happen. But it won’t happen until 2010, though.
The rumors are Mark is returning to drive full time in the #5. I think that is great for Mark! Since his son gave up racing and is concentrating on education Mark has that bug and frankly I think he called it quits too soon since DJ and others raced past 50.
Fisha I still couldn’t see Smoke at HMS because he is not like Junior who needs better equipment to win–or as we may see with Mark. Everyone wants HMS equipment and Smoke can have that with his own team at Haas. I don’t think he’s happy in a Toyota and as Howie pointed out on another subject Chevy has pressured him to return because of his sprint and USAC teams for one. Smoke is a big commodity for Chevy and I bet every time they see that commercial for Toyota they get nauseous.
I think he will leave, why not… Don’t forget about Joey Logano. There are some really good drivers at JGR, and Tony is getting old, and hairy. He wants to race long enough to live the life style he has become acustom to. Don’t get me wrong Smoke is a great driver but do you think he has any championships left in him? And Zippy will not leave JGR.
Tony landed Office Depot today for the 2009 season