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Tony Stewart: Loose in Pocono’s Turn 3

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by Charlie Turner

I'm Charlie Turner co-host of the syndicated, mostly NASCAR radio show On Pit Row. Thanks for stopping by OnPitRow.com and the Bench Racing with Steve and Charlie blog. Oh yeah, Steve is an idiot.

August 1, 2008 9:28 am CDT 9 Comments

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Tony Stewart: Loose in Pocono’s Turn 3 Ricky Stenhouse Jr and Chrissy Wallace headline the young driver talent at Pocono Raceway this weekend.  Wallace and Stenhouse will compete in the ARCA RE/MAX Pennsylvania 200 on Saturday. 

NASCAR will have a contingent of young guns too.  Aric Almirola, Regan Smith and  Michael McDowell all hope to compete in Sunday’s Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500.  NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series is due for a big influx of new, young drivers over the next couple seasons.  Several cupsters who, not so long ago, were considered the new Young Guns, could be pushed out of the way. 

That’s where this week’s Loose in Turn 3 topic comes from. 

Should Tony Stewart look for the hot, young prospect, maybe someone from the open wheel ranks, instead of a current, high dollar star like Ryan Newman for his second car at Stewart-Haas?

Charlie: Things changed for Stewart-Haas Racing after the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard.  Jason Leffler managed to drive the #70 to a finish that took that car to 35th in owner’s points. If the team is able to maintain that position, Stewart-Haas Racing will have both cars qualified for the 2009 Daytona 500 and the first five races of 2009. There would be less pressure to have a driver experienced with, and accomplished at, qualifying. If Stewart is convinced that he has identified the next… well the next Tony Stewart, he might think it’s worth the risk. That said, I’d still take Ryan Newman or Martin Truex. Keep the new sponsors happy. Gamble with the third car when that’s ready.

TZ: I don’t know. I think for many race teams, the pursuit of a young talent to complete their driver roster is often the way to go - and, we’re going to see that next year from either Penske or Childress- but, I don’t think it really works for Stewart-Haas … not at this point, anyway. What it comes down to is that even with Stewart as the new face of the organization, these guys are going to be going through a monumental rebuilding period. Without Ryan Newman, Martin Truex, or hell, even Casey Mears behind the wheel of that other car, they may not get the sponsorship prestige that they’re looking for. It’s all moot anyway, though … Newman’s going to be in this no. 4 car.

Bruce: Stewart needs to stick to Cup drivers. I’ve not been impressed with any new outside talent coming into NASCAR and Stewart needs every edge he can get with his new venture.

That’s what we think.  What do you think?  Add your feedback to what TZ, from Do You NASCAR?, Bruce from NASCAR Bits and I think.  Then head over to TZ’s blog for this discussion…

Is Randy Moss’ recent 50% purchase of what is now Moss Motorsports good for the sport?

Bruce’s topic this week revolves around this…

With Tony Stewart acting out over in USAC, what’s that about?  Do you think the stress of starting up a new team might be getting to him?

Photo credit: Icon Sports Media, Inc.

Filed under: NASCAR Rumors, Ryan Newman, Stewart Haas Racing, Tony Stewart, Turn 3 posts 

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Comments

9 Responses to “Tony Stewart: Loose in Pocono’s Turn 3”

  1. User Avatar Marc on August 1st, 2008 6:07 pm

    Truex has more “upside” than Newman in my humble, but obnoxious, opinion.

    He’s got the age advantage, a championship under his belt and no apparent problems attracting major sponsorship.

  2. Randy Moss Runnin’ Loose in Turn 3 Along With Jimmie Johnson on August 1st, 2008 6:23 pm

    [...] Over at On Pit Row, we answer “Should Tony Stewart look for the hot, young prospect, maybe someone from the open wheel ranks, inste…?” [...]

  3. User Avatar Charlie Turner on August 1st, 2008 9:29 pm

    Two championships, I believe. And I agree.

  4. Tim Zaegel on August 3rd, 2008 1:05 am

    I don’t see it. I just don’t see Truex as ever being a major player in this sport, and I definitely don’t see him as having more upside than Newman. I honestly feel like Truex is going to fall into that Elliott Sadler category of drivers. He’ll probably have five to seven wins in the series by the time his Cup career is over with.

  5. User Avatar Marc on August 3rd, 2008 4:50 pm

    Tim - “I don’t see it. I just don’t see Truex as ever being a major player in this sport, and I definitely don’t see him as having more upside than Newman.”

    What up-side does Newman possess?

    Other than one freak year, and given all the others it’s the only category 2003 fits into, Newman hasn’t done much with what for the most part is good equipment.

  6. Tim Zaegel on August 3rd, 2008 11:15 pm

    Marc - “Other than one freak year, and given all the others it’s the only category 2003 fits into …”

    That one freak year is probably more than Truex’ entire career will ever amount to, but I’d also say that winning the Daytona 500 this year was also pretty big.

    Marc - “Newman hasn’t done much with what for the most part is good equipment.”

    The same good equipment that is sending 2004 Cup champion Kurt Busch’s career down the toilet in a hurry?

  7. User Avatar Matt Mercer on August 4th, 2008 10:21 am

    I agree and disagree with both of you…

    Newman is a talented driver that races hard and can win races if the equipment is there. It was there in his first few seasons, but his last year with Matt Borland and subsequent crew chiefs after haven’t clicked for the most part. Don’t forget his stretch of wins in the Nationwide Series either, when he won 5 straight races and 6 overall in 2005.

    Truex is also a talented driver than knows how to race for a championship, going back-to-back in the Busch Series, and his results steadily improved in Cup.

    However, both drivers need a change of scenery. Both team and driver will likely do better. People called Jeff Burton washed up when he left Roush for RCR, yet it rejuvenated his career and allowed Carl Edwards to move to the 99. NASCAR is littered with examples such as this - Terry Labonte was a midpack driver after winning the 1984 championship until he signed with Hendrick, and won his 2nd title. Heck, the team Kyle Busch has dominated with this season couldn’t hardly finish in the top 20 with J.J. Yeley behind the wheel.

  8. User Avatar Charlie Turner on August 4th, 2008 11:06 am

    I guess we’ll find out soon enough. I like Truex more than Tim does and Newman more than Marc. But I like Yeley too. What do I know anyway?

  9. Tim Zaegel on August 4th, 2008 9:04 pm

    I will partially concede one point here, though … my unwillingness to accept Truex as a potential breakout driver COULD just be me blinded by my discontent for Teresa Earnhardt and DEI.

    It’s a possibility.

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