Two-time Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart has driven for Joe Gibbs Racing his entire stock car career and is slated to through at least 2009. If there is any truth to rumors that have surfaced late this week, this could change.
Inside sources have told several media outlets that discussions are under way to facilitate a move that would see Tony Stewart leave Gibbs, possibly before the end of his contract, to drive a Chevy for Hass-CNC Racing. Considering the wide difference in the competitive level of the two organizations, this move would be seen as a major coup if it were to happen.
Reached for comment, Stewart’s publicist Mike Arning was as most publicists usually are: ambiguous and non-committal.
“Tony’s contract is through the 2009 season. When that is up he’ll have a lot of options for 2010 and beyond. But in terms of what he’s going to do, or might do, for now and in between, as far as JGR is concerned he’s their driver for 2009.”
In that statement, Arning neither confirms nor denies any rumors that Stewart is at least talking to other teams or whether Stewart wants to opt out of his contract a year early or not.
This last statement about opting out is one that inside, anonymous sources are confirming. They also say that Stewart is intrigued by the idea of ownership. One rumored scenario has Stewart going to Hass-CNC, taking majority ownership in the operation, Hendrick giving the #5 car over to that team (Hass-CNC is a Hendrick satellite team), and Stewart driving it. None of this is confirmed and is pure speculation.
Of the interested parties Hass-CNC officials say there are no discussions under way, while Joe Gibbs Racing president J.D. Gibbs essentially has said the same statement as Arning.
When Gibbs announced the team’s move to Toyota at the end of last season, Stewart’s unhappiness with leaving Chevrolet was no secret. Chevy still sponsors his USAC teams and badly misses having Stewart in its camp. These facts have helped to fan the flames of this rumor. Stay tuned here for more updates as this situation unfolds.
The sponsor roller coaster ride continues
Another hot free agent in the NASCAR garage is the primary sponsorship slot on the Roush-Fenway Racing #99 Ford, driven by Carl Edwards. Though Edwards’ contract with the team also runs out at the end of this year, there is virtually no chance he will sign somewhere else.
Office Depot, the current sponsor of the car, signed a three-year contract with the team at a cost of $14-15 million per year. Roush want around $22-24 million per year for the next sponsor of the car, because the team is performing better and Carl Edwards is now a superstar. Office Depot, who is having its own internal and financial troubles, may not be able to afford the rate hike.
Now enters UPS. Its sponsorship at Michael Waltrip Racing ends after this season and its marquee driver, Dale Jarrett, retired from the #44 Toyota after five races this year. The company’s marketing campaign with Jarrett was long and very successful and it is not sure that it will attain the same success with an under-performing team and an aging driver in David Reutimann. UPS already has announced that it will evaluate its motorsports program and decide its destination my mid-season.
If Office Depot decides that it cannot afford Edwards, industry analysts say that UPS wants to try to land the deal, since Edwards is extremely marketable. If neither MWR or Roush-Fenway work, UPS may also try to make a run at the #31 Richard Childress Racing team and Jeff Burton. Their sponsor, AT&T, is being forced off of the car after this season.
In other news…slow economic times have caused Checkers/Rally’s to end its sponsorship deal with NASCAR. The chain was the “official burger of NASCAR”. NASCAR said the decision was mutual and is currently looking for a proper replacement.
Truck Series sponsors continue to follow Travis Kvapil to the Cup Series. Northern Tool and Equipment will sponsor Kvapil and the #28 Yates Racing Ford in the Talladega race this coming weekend. Other Truck sponsors K&N and Zaxby’s have sponsored Kvapil this season. Zaxby’s will sponsor him in several more coming races.
No Elliott at ‘Dega and More Miller in NNS
Dawsonville’s Bill Elliott is taking the week off in favor of Jon Wood, who will make his season debut in the #21 Honey Buns Ford for his family’s team, the Wood Brothers. Wood also will run the #21 Air Force Ford F-150 in the Craftsman Truck Series. Wood ran one Cup race last year and finished 29th at Las Vegas. Wood has one top-10 in his only Talladega Truck race and one top-5 in three Nationwide Series races there.
Canton’s Chase Miller has good news to phone home about. Verizon Wireless and Motorola announced last week that they have signed as a primary sponsor for the Gillett-Evernham Motorsports #9 Dodge in the Nationwide Series, for seven races. This doubles Miller’s original schedule for the year to an end total of about 15 races for this season. His best finish is 14th at Nashville this year in the series.
Minimal Georgia participation in Mexico City
David Ragan was Georgia’s only entry in the NASCAR Nationwide Series in Mexico City. He remains 5th in the standings, after piloting the #6 Discount Tire Ford to a 23rd place finish.
Old School Racing Series postponed until 2009
The Old School Racing Series, an all-star racing series that was scheduled to follow the Sprint Cup Series around and race on short tracks nearby with past stars, will wait until next year to run. Series officials announced this week that they are waiting on a financial partner to sign up and assist the series. They plan to run in 2009. Past Cup drivers like James Hylton, Geoff Bodine, Harry Gant, David Pearson and others were scheduled to run in this IROC-like series this year.
Tune in from 2-4 p.m. to the Bellamy Strickland 120 with myself and Captain Herb Emory on News/Talk 750 WSB, for live updates from Talladega and Kansas.
