Did Old Spice Pave the Way For Budweiser at Stewart-Haas?

by Charlie Turner

Thanks for stopping by OnPitRow.com and the Bench Racing with Steve and Charlie blog. The best NASCAR and IndyCar news and opinion, exclusive pictures and video. I'm Charlie Turner. Follow me on Twitter @onpitrow

May 18, 2010 12:20 pm UTC 3 Comments

The news last Tuesday that Proctor and Gamble was going to pull its Old Spice sponsorship of Tony Stewart’s race cars certainly wasn’t good for Stewart-Haas Racing.

Tony Stewart’s year-plus stewardship of the team Gene Haas built has been mostly, wildly successful. The #14 has been solidly sponsored by Old Spice and Office Depot. But Ryan Newman’s #39 has shown up with Haas Automation on the fenders almost as often as the U S Army. Probably not the preferred situation.

So losing one of the big check writers – while not winning at all on the track so far in 2010 – makes year two of Tony’s reign less lustrous.

Stewart and Newman are famous fisherman. And there’s a big’un out there for the hooking.

Anheuser-Busch probably has an out with Richard Petty Motorsports, what with their chosen one – Kasey Kahne moving on. I look for Budweiser to be on one of those Stewart-Haas Chevies in 2010.

Photo credit: BethAnne Heisler – OnpitRow.com

Filed under: Kasey Kahne, NASCAR, NASCAR Bidness, NASCAR Rumors, Ryan Newman, Stewart Haas Racing, Tony Stewart

Tagged with: Gene Haas, Old Spice Racing, Richard Petty Motorsports

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Stewart Ready to Go Where Few Have Succeeded

by Steve Wronkowicz

I am co-host of the syndicated radio show: ON PIT ROW. Over ten years on the air and three on the net; see what can happen when I don't let the facts get in the way of my opinions.

July 14, 2008 9:38 pm UTC 4 Comments

Tony Stewart finally announces his plans for 2009.

Stewart validated what many felt they knew already. Smoke will leave Joe Gibbs Racing after 2008 and has become co-owner of the new Stewart-Haas Racing. Details of the actual “buy in” are somewhat sketchy as to whether Stewart actually bought into the operation or whether he was given fifty percent as his incentive to make the move. If indeed the reports that Stewart’s contract from JGR was bought out by Chevy and Haas gave him his stake in the new team; Stewart is truly entering ownership from a position of strength.

The old joke about how to become a millionaire in racing; by starting as a multi-millionaire, obviously wouldn’t apply to Tony. Haas has nothing to loose by giving Stewart half his business. Stewart will be able to do what Haas hasn’t; have instant credibility. Haas hasn’t had much credibility in his years of car ownership. His race team has not had much success on the race track and Gene hasn’t had much success in the courts.

Bringing a new intensity and credibility will allow Stewart-Haas Racing to attract high quality people and sponsorship. Already sponsors seem to be lining up to throw their logos on Stewart’s car. And make no mistake about it; attracting the benjamins is one of the most important parts of car ownership in the current NASCAR world.

And that brings us to this week’s BUZZ ON PIT ROW:

Now that Tony Stewart has finally made his announcement who will he bring along to be his number two driver; Ryan Newman, Martin Truex, Jr. or both?

Let us know what you think and we may use your comments on this weeks show. You can listen to ON PIT ROW here. Then tune into INSIDE ARCA at www.arcaracing.com., starting at 5pm ET on Tuesdays.

Photo Credit: Icon Sports Media

Filed under: Chevrolet, Haas CNC Racing, Joe Gibbs Racing, Martin Truex Jr., NASCAR Bidness, NASCAR Rumors, On Pit Row The Fastest Two Hours on Radio, Ryan Newman, Sprint Cup Series, Stewart Haas Racing, Tony Stewart

Tagged with: blog motorsports, Gene Haas, Haas C&C Racing, Martin Truex Jr., NASCAR, Ryan Newman, Stewart Haas Racing, Tony Stewart

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Will Tony Stewart Succeed Where So Many Have Failed?

by Charlie Turner

July 10, 2008 10:31 pm UTC 4 Comments

I wonder if Darrell Waltrip was as happy as Tony Stewart was today, on the day that DW announced formation of his- then – Winston Cup race team?

I can’t remember Ricky Rudd’s press conference, if there was one, when he kicked off Rudd Racing. Or whatever it was called. I don’t remember that either.

I do remember that the ends of those two enterprises weren’t that happy.

Michael Waltrip’s own start-up got off to a rousing start. Big-time press coverage there. Big-time hopes too, what with Dale Jarrett, UPS, NAPA and Mikey spearheading Toyota’s foray into the, then Nextel Cup wars. Then there was that little cheating deal at the Daytona 500. Been kind of downhill, generally, ever since.

Venerable racer-owners, the Pettys and the Woods, have had glorious success. But that was a long time ago.

Now Tony Stewart is a, Sprint Cup this time, team owner. Today was a happy one for Stewart, the Haas Engineering organization, Chevrolet, Office Depot and somewhere we presume, Gene Haas.

Good luck Smoke.

Photo credit: Icon Sports Media, Inc.

Filed under: Chevrolet, Chicagoland Speedway, Daytona 500, NASCAR Bidness, NASCAR Rumors, Sprint Cup Series, Stewart Haas Racing, The Waltrips, Tony Stewart, Toyota

Tagged with: blog, Chicagoland Speedway, Gene Haas, motorsports, NASCAR, NASCAR Rumors, Stewart Haas Racing, Tony Stewart

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