Why Tony Stewart is Not Leaving Joe Gibbs Racing

by Steve Wronkowicz

I am co-host of the syndicated radio show: ON PIT ROW. Charlie likes to call me an "idiot". I'm not an "idiot"; I just prefer not to let the facts get in the way of my opinions.

7 Responses to “Why Tony Stewart is Not Leaving Joe Gibbs Racing”

1. Ovalscream on April 11th, 2008 8:27 am

   Monte Dutton says speculation is also on Bobby Labonte as a possible fourth driver. In his NASCAR This Week post today, he asks Kevin Harvick what sort of driver should fill out the fourth spot on his team.

2. sparxmoore on April 11th, 2008 7:14 pm

   WOW tony has businuess dealings with these people so he’ll never leave ? THATS a huge revelation …except tony has SERIOUS businuess dealings with CHEVY …mostly outside of na$car and still left them ? Im not saying your wrong but your logic is FRIGHTFUL !! Doesn’t any of you wonder why if Tony is so secure with toyota why he wouldnt discuss a contract extension until after this season ? Dont be fooled ..hes leaving the door open in case he comes up winless in toyotas ! And dont think for one second chevy isnt gonna be willing to pay big to bring him back !

3. Steve Wronkowicz on April 12th, 2008 6:31 am

   Thanks for the comments. But, lets be clear about something–Tony Stewart didn’t leave Chevy–Joe Gibbs Racing left Chevy. My point was, and still is that Stewart’s business dealings with JGR and those associated with JGR, both on and off the track, make it unlikely that he will bolt from his comfort zone.

   Stewart is about comfort zones. When he was struggling two years ago, what was his course of action? He moved back home to Columbus, IN to be “Back Home”.

   Tony–winless in Toyotas–don’t see it happening.

4. sparxmoore on April 12th, 2008 9:00 am

   ok your right about TONY not leaving CHEVY …JOE gibbs left chevy and decided FOR tony what he would race …. so AS for comfort zones …WHY wouldnt tony jump ship for ANY contending chevy team to return to his ” comfort zone”….much less one currently leading the points picture and also containing one of his close friends in kevin harvick ? Dont get me wrong .. It was high time someone delved into this subject …but i think it needed to be someone close enuff to garner more than opinion

5. Charlie Turner on April 12th, 2008 10:51 am

   Sparx, we did talk to someone “close enough to garner more than opinion”. We talked to Jeff Hammond, who is one of Tony’s partners in at least one venture - the one Steve wrote about here. Now I don’t agree with Steve that this particular business connection precludes Stewart leaving JGR. In fact there is a new rumor in the garage area that Tony may leave for a different Chevy operation - one where he would become an owner with Haas CNC. I do believe that the draw of staying with Chevy may cause Stewart to move from JGR. But he’s signed through 2009. There is time next off season to negotiate and the more viable options that he has, the better his negotiating position will be.

   If you find a venue where the people who are actually involved in this - or any other interesting story - are talking about it, let us know. We’d like to read that as well. But those folks are usually not very forthcoming on issues until after the fact. ‘Til then, much of what you get is speculation and opinion. That is what “Bench Racing” is, by definition. We never claimed to be more than that. I hope you get something out of our site, whether it’s enlightenment, entertainment or an opportunity to argue. Thanks for contributing to the dialogue.

6. sparxmoore on April 12th, 2008 7:11 pm

   Charlie thanks for the input …if ya read closely youll notice i never said wether he was leaving JGR or not …just had to questioning the logic as steve wrote it …..it read to me as if you were saying Tony WASNT leaving because he had a joint businuess venture with other members of JGR …( not we think he isnt ) ….But tony has MANY other businuess ventures , including race teams that are strictly CHEVY ! also I DID read that the information came from jeff hammond , and i guess that is what made me question it even more . i have posed questions about tonys force to toyota since DAYTONA in an effort to get information , and there have been no credible responses . While i appreciate 100% somebody finally tackling this issue , i guess i am disapointed that it was based on secondhand opinions . Also id like to say i love your site , if only for the oppurtunity to pose questions nobody else seems to be asking …or AINT being answered. Thanx for the space !

7. Steve Wronkowicz on April 12th, 2008 7:58 pm

   First of all we did talk with Jeff on the show on Tuesday. Jeff talked about several topics, as i indicated in the original post, including his dealings with Sheridan Ridge and who the other NASCAR principles were in that venture.

   Jeff Hammond did NOT say anything about Tony Stewart’s future race plans. I took what Jeff said, added in other factors and come up with a likely scenario as I see the possibilities of Stewart’s future. Hell–Tony could be retired before he signs any more contracts with anyone. Remember that Tony likes to talk retirement at least twice during any given season.

   When Junior had his press conference that he was leaving DEI and Budweiser, I listened to what he had to say, what Darrell Waltrip was saying and wrote a post that he would be driving a Mountain Dew car in 2008. Just like crew chiefs interpret the rule book, I like to read between the lines and see what could really be happening.

   Tony Stewart severing his ties with Chevy would be shocking than him severing his ties JGR. Many scenarios could play out. It’s my opinion that friendships will out weigh an engine block. I could be wrong. But there sure is a lot of green in the stands these days.
   I

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