Stewart looks likely to stay at Gibbs in 2009
Quote selected text Published May 22nd, 2008 in NASCAR News
Tony Stewart said he is getting closer to determining what he will be doing next season and beyond.
Stewart, who is signed with Joe Gibbs Racing through 2009, is entertaining offers of leaving the organization to go to another team that would include the two-time Cup champion as a team owner.
“I’m getting closer, that’s the good thing,” said Stewart, who first acknowledged he was considering leaving JGR four weeks ago at Talladega. “I feel like I’m on the backside of the hill getting everything done. We’re a lot closer than we were.”
If Stewart wants to race somewhere else in 2009, he would need to get released from his contract with Joe Gibbs Racing. He has admitted the issue has been discussed but denied that he has gotten the release for the team where he has spent his entire 10-year Cup carrier.
“We haven’t gotten it,” Stewart said of the release. “I have not asked for it.”
- Gibbs says Stewart will not be offered ownership in team
- Stewart could partner with JR Motorsports?
- Could Stewart leave Gibbs if they move to Toyota?
- No retirement consideration for Stewart … for at least 2 1/2 years
- Gibbs waiting to see what Stewart wants long-term
There’s a good possibility that Stewart will stay at Gibbs in 2009 and even sign a contract extention with the team while he buys another Cup operation like what Dale Earnhardt did. There hasn’t been any indication that Stewart has been trying to get out of his contract and now he has confirmed that. But he does want to own a team.
Question: Would Chevy be kosher with an arrangement like this?
I don’t think the suits at GM would mind (now the loyal GM fans may be another problem)
However I am still addiment (sp?) that a Cup team is not the way to go. Sr did it, other’s did it, but that was a different NASCAR, that was a different Sponsor pool, and that was a less PC era. Do a truck team, do a Nationwide team, but do not do a Cup team when you are still racing in Cup.
Also Kenneth I guess this puts to rest (well probaly not) any possible rumors that JPM was looking to go to JGR, that might have started because of his dinner with JD the other day.
Kenneth - ARS Editor wrote:
This is what I’ve said he should do all along. The driver/owner thing rarely works out like you see it going in your head… Just ask Robby Gordon or Awesome Bill how owning and driving your own car goes. Sr did it the right way and that’s what I hope Tony ends up doing as well!
i dont see this happening unless be buys a toyota team..too much information could be transfered from JGR to his own team….and if they run chevys, toyota may get upset about it…you all remember earnhardt was driving a chevy…then built his own team..with chevys so it wasnt that big a deal….i bet more goes into this than what you all will think b/c of the manufaturer difference
Dale Jr just said the other day that running a Nationwide team is as expensive almost as a Cup
team, and that it was not really worth it.
I don’t think him owning a Chevy team while driving for Toyota would fly for either Chevy or Toyota.