Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
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Per ESPN Breaking News:

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Two-time NASCAR champion Tony Stewart has been granted a release from the final year of his driving contract with Joe Gibbs Racing after 10 seasons with the team, sources close to Stewart confirmed for ESPN.com Tuesday night.

Stewart will formally announce his departure from the team Wednesday.

On Thursday at Chicagoland Speedway, Stewart will formally announce a move to Haas/CNC Racing as co-owner and driver, sources close to Stewart said.

Haas/CNC, which currently fields the Nos. 66 and 70 Chevrolets, will be renamed Stewart Haas Racing in 2009.

Sources close to both sides told ESPN.com the deal will make Stewart the highest-paid driver in NASCAR.

Sources also said the Stewart Haas cars will carry different numbers. The No. 14, made famous in IndyCar racing by Stewart's hero, A.J. Foyt, is available, but sources would neither confirm nor deny that as his choice.

Sources said Stewart will own a 50 percent stake in the organization, but his financial investment in attaining it was not disclosed.

As ESPN.com's David Newton initially reported, Office Depot will have a role in sponsoring Stewart's car.

Ryan Newman remains the lead candidate to drive Stewart Haas' second car, sources said, though no deal had yet been finalized Tuesday night.

Stewart Haas will continue to receive chassis and engines from Hendrick Motorsports. Haas/CNC's current drivers, Scott Riggs and Johnny Sauter, are ranked 36th and 44th, respectively, in the owner point standings.

If the team's performance fails to improve its points position during the second half of 2008, Stewart's champion's provisional will guarantee him a slot in the field for the first five races next season, presuming NASCAR doesn't change the rule.

During his tenure at JGR, which began in 1999, Stewart has recorded 32 victories, a pair of Sprint Cup championships and more than $68 million in winnings. Stewart has reinvested his wealth in racing. He owns multiple sprint car teams and a trio of racetracks, including Eldora Speedway.

video:

http://sports.espn.go.com/broadband/video/videopage?videoId=3479223&categoryId=2492290

I hate most Donny Schatz fans...i.e. all the ones who 
started rooting for him within the last 3 years...  
i.e. 90% of them.

Didn't know Smoke owned "other" race tracks. Thought Eldora was it.

Anyone know his "other" tracks?

Thanks...and have a good one.

Calling an illegal immigrant an "undocumented worker" 
is like calling a drug dealer an "unlicensed 
pharmacist!"

I hope Hass will run Chevies next year. Tony Stewart in a Toyota is a travesty.

The hopeless desire to outrun Bud Grimm's Fords is 
why central PA became the toughest place to race on 
the planet. Even the KING couldn't run with Casey 
Luna's Fords on a tacky track. It's a crying shame 
that current car owners failed to notice.

I'd rather see Smoke winning in a Toy than struggling in a Chevy.

Tony's other tracks are co-ownerships with other Cup drivers in Macon IL (Kenny Wallace) and Paducah KY (Dale the Jr)

If Hendricks is supplying chassis and engines i would say chevy.

It sounds like part of the reason he left was to get back to Chevy. I admire him for loyalty. With Hendrick equipment they should find success next year as long as they can find the right people to call the shots... with Stewart involved that's probably easier said than done...lol.

Is that why Kraig Kinser is still in the sprinter?? Maybe he will be the 2nd driver!!

WOW!!! YOU SAW THROUGH THE "SMOKE" SCREEN!!!!

See, that's why Tony hired Kraig and hasn't fired him. It's all a master plan and you saw right through it. Congratulations!!!

Seriously though, best of luck to TS in everything he does.

I am lucky enough to work at one of the best tracks 
anywhere.

Yeah, when pigs fly maybe...........Ryan Newman will be the 2nd driver.....

YOU GUYS ARE ON THE RIGHT TRACK THATS WHY TONYS JIMMY CARR AROUND FOR SO LONG THATS HIS NEW CREW CHEF IN THE SPRINT CUP

It will be refreshing to have "Smoke" back in a Chevy!

Sirius Speedway has learned that UPS will move from Michael Waltrip Racing’s #44 Toyota to the quarterpanels of Clint Bowyer’s #07 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet in 2009, leaving Jack Daniels in search of a new driver. That driver will be Ryan Newman, who is set to sign-on with Stewart at Haas CNC.

______________________________________________________
"The Posse has been handing it to the Outlaws longer 
than the World of Outlaws has been winning the 
Knoxville Nationals. Quaker State skills are never on 
trial." - Kevin Eckert

Thank you!! I am pretty smart, I am surprised no one else thought of this!! It just came to me for some odd reason???

Best of luck to "Smoke/Haas/CNC Racing" in 2009 and beyond! Tear it up, Smoke!!!

Part owner of Paducah Racetrack in Paducah, KY with Jr., and Shrader. Part owner of a track in Macon Raceway in IL or MO with Shrader and Kenny Wallace.

t-warrior

It was reported on nascar today that chevy was talking with Tony all along with this deal, sounded like they wanted him back in a chevy.

Chevy bought him out of his contract, I also heard that Martin Truex Jr. is a good possibility..... It makes sense, all smoke's dirt stuff is Bass Pro Shops and Tracker Boats and Chevy....all truex's pavement stuff is the same.

Could be interesting post-season