It appears everyone is waiting on Tony Stewart to share his plans. The only way I see him staying at JGR is renewing for several more years. A lame duck driver in 2009 benefits no one. Should Smoke decide there are greener pastures he will need to decide soon where he will be doing his plowing. Souvenir sales are a huge part of a team and drivers' income and that is the ticking clock. Design,artwork, tooling etc. needs to begin this summer in order for a good bit of the collectibles to arrive by Christmas. With a hefty portion coming from China on the proverbial slow boat the domino's should start falling soon. I Would Pass on Hass Tony hasn't called yet to ask my opinion so I will share it here.Tempting as ownership may be financially it may be a disappointment. As a driver his next contract could take him into retirement from the Sprint Cup Series with an extra $100 million+ in the wallet in just a few years. No matter who he gets as a sponsor he will never be able to make that kind of money as an owner driver. Perhaps he is looking at the future with a hope of cashing in on franchising should it happen. Then again his love for racing could make it strictly a decision from the heart. He has made more money than he ever dreamed or possibly spend so he could afford to "Go for it."
The biggest downside to wearing the owner/driver hat is the racer side. Once your past the thrill of just being able to race the urge to win consumes you. For now I don't see Smoke being content being a field filler when he knows he could be winning in several other cars, or could he. I looked at some numbers,they always look scarier on paper, and it doesn't bode well for 2 or even 3 car teams.
The Last 52 Races TEAM Wins
Hendrick 20
Roush 10
Gibbs 10
Childress 5
Penske 3
GEM 2
DEI 1
Ganassi 1
Kurt Busch won twice last year in a Penske Dodge, Pocono and Michigan, while still a 2 car operation. You have to go back to Dale Jarrett's Talladega win in 2005 in a Yates Ford for the last winner from a 2 car team. If Tony insists on going it alone I still would love to see the hookup with him and Robby like I semi joked in a previous post. If only for the aggravation it would bring on an obviously over burdened and under qualified Nascar management team. HammerHands
Photo - IF and WHEN Smoke ever retires I am sure he would be a riot in the booth. ALthough I am sure you are talking SMACK at this point, yes?
Hammer - I like you suggestion of Smoke teaming with Gordon. They both remind me of AJ Foyt, which both drivers have driven for in the past. That would be an interesting combination.
I think it is most likely Haas because this is more about post-racing career than anything. Think he is willing to put a big sponsorship/shop/driver/development package together and drive for about 3 years before going full-time into ownership.
Do believe that NASCAR circa 2012 will be without Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart as drivers.
tony will stay at joe gibbs racing,he is no fool.there is plenty of time for this ownership stuff.there is not another team out there that gives him any better chance to win a 3rd title.
Tony knows a good thing when he see's it. whatever he does he will be fine. Smoke is smart owner already, and he knows the Haas hooked up with HMS and with Ryan as teammate, they will have good teammates in Jr JJ JG and hopefully Martin Truex, what a lineup,,,Smoking
Hammer, I'm with Gerrel on the Robbie deal. Both are SUPER talents and out sized attitudes. I always pick Tony to win and root for RG to catch a break. Expect Nascar to make a special rule against that (Them teaming up) happening.
Maybe Tony and Jr will buy DEI from Thersa at the fire sale. Jr has said he may want to move his NNW team up to the sprint cup and Tony wants to own his own team. Could be a better deal than Haas.
Since Tony's been bad mouthing NASCAR since he entered the league why on earth would he even consider starting a "business" relationship with them. Which is what ownership would be. There's better things to do in life. Move on.
i think tony possibly come to hendrick in 2010 and that is why mark is going to drive for hendrick in 09 and then drive for jr and tony in 2010. they it would be mark,truex,tony and one other. i think childers or hendrick would want in as silent partners.
This way kelly would run the front office and i think could joint up with harvick in because then they would have the market surrounded by having dirt track, truck series and nation wide and have plenty of driver to choose from.
Good info ther hammer. Interesting, not real surprising, to see the actual # of wins by the teams over that span. I have said this from the first time it was reported that Stewart may leave JGR for possible ownership. I believe that he will buy out of JGR after this season and drive the #5 at HMS next year. After that, I believe he and Dale Jr. will be working on setting up their own Sprint cup team. Dale Jr. has already said he wants to move his JR. Motorsports team to the Sprint series because the nationwide series is a straightup money loser. And, if those two would start a team, with HMS power under their hoods, well I think they would be immidiate contenders. Even if it was just a 2 car team to begin with, those are 2 pretty good drivers to have on the same team, not to mention it would be a satellite HMS team so they would probably be info sharing with them. I may be way off, but I've thought that from the beginning, and I'm sticking with it. And, not to toot my own horn, but anyone who has been a regular on these boards for the last couple years will know that when Jr. said he was leaving DEI I said right then and there that he would be driving for HMS. And when crybaby kyle abandoned his car at Texas, that was when I knew for sure he would be driving for HMS.
I think Tony saying he was interested in the #5 was just a smoke screen. I believe since a sponsor was named for Ryans car...the rumor below may have some teeth:
JAYSKI: "supposedly the deal is done, earlier Friday, a source close to the situation said that CHEVROLET has AGREED to terms with Joe Gibbs Racing to buy Tony Stewart out of his contract with the #20-Toyota Sprint Cup racing team. Stewart will indeed be making the move to Haas CNC Racing, a rumor that has been circulating for months. Supposedly Stewart’s new sponsor will be Office Depot and terms have been finalized regarding the impending sponsorship. In addition, Stewart will be joined by current #12 Penske Racing driver Ryan Newman, who would be sponsored by Burger King. No word yet on what car numbers the drivers will run and an announcement could come as early as next week at the Daytona International Speedway."
Chevrolet buying out Tonys contract? And supposedly Tonys still negotiating according to the other rumors...lol Wow, Tonys sure got a full house in his hand. Good for you Tony!
Hammerhands: Robby and Tony would certainly be a match... They can get Jack Daniels away from RCR and Clint and Tony and Robby could start a new victory lane celebration doing shots of Jim Bean and Jack Daniels off the hood of their cars! ROTFLMAO! Im sure Mr. Helton and the networds would love that...! lol
Or better yet, Schlitz could sponsor Tonys car and he could knife a can in victory lane and shot gun Schlitz beer. lol
I dont like Tony driving for Haas, but if he could work a deal to drive the 5 car and buy into Haas, that'd be a smart move, and take a page out of Dale Sr's playbook, and it worked very well for him, but i dont see Haas going for that so much. However, just having Tony in the organization in some capacity even if it isnt a driver can only make the organization go strait up from where they are now.
If i were Reed, my advice for him would be run for the exit at Ganassi like it's a fire drill! That's a sinking ship and he has great potential and even a ride at Penske or DEI would be a better step up from where he's at now, not a huge step, but the grass would be in patches.
Bobby Labonte and Greg Biffle had better options that would've been a step in the right direction had they of taken them, and i think they'll end up regreting extending with their owners.
Martin Truex has underrated talent and i think there are better options in front of him, i just hope he dont make the same mistakes that Bobby and Biffle made.
Ryan Newman is one hellva qualifier, but sucks on closing the deal to win races. I think he's overrated and would rather see him with a owner i dont like such as Roush or in a crappy team such as Ganassi.
Jamie McMurray has talent, i know he does, and as much as i dislike Roush, i'd like to see McMurray elsewhere, and if things keep goin the way they are, it might just happen.
