Tony Stewart leaving Gibbs Racing after '08 season
For some time now, rumors have been flying around the NASCAR pits about Tony Stewart's future with Joe Gibbs Racing. Many speculators felt certain that Stewart would break out of his Gibbs Racing contract for a chance at part ownership of the Haas/CNC team. However, both sides assured that any resolution would not be reported before season end. Not quite. possibly tiring of incessant media questioning, the official details have now been made public. Joe Gibbs Racing will in fact be releasing Tony Stewart from his contract a year early. As expected Stewart will take on a part ownership role with HAAS/CNC, set to become Stewart Haas Racing.
The deal leaves no burned bridges between Stewart and his ten-year home though, as both parties stand to gain plenty. After all, it's rumored that Stewart's move will award him the largest salary in NASCAR. Not to mention that Joe Gibbs Racing has a stable of eager up and coming drivers willing to jump in the empty seat. Part of the deal also assures that all of the Home Depot car's talented crew stay a part of Joe Gibbs Racing. Stewart's new role as owner sees him moving from Home Depot sponsorship to the more fitting corporate image of Office Depot.
[Source: ESPN, Image: Geoff Burke/Getty]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Bam 4:13PM (7/11/2008)
good to see smoke going back to chevy
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sitruc 4:26PM (7/11/2008)
Was a comment deleted?
Are there more details now than yesterday? Toyota.
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VP 4:34PM (7/11/2008)
Not to poke at your story but nobody said there would no resolution to this issue till season's end. Tony said he would announce something once it's final.
It's good to have tony back in a Chevy. He said in an interview yesterday he plain didn't like it when JGR jumped shipped to Toyota and GM promised him that day that they would do everything they can do get him back in the Chevy camp.
To the nascar snobs: If you don't like NASCAR and think it's a bunch of crap, we already know it and don't need you to come spam here.
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Jim 4:53PM (7/11/2008)
I'm glad he's back with Chevy. I would like for the Toyota teams to be all Japanese and American be all Americans like they do in many sports. To me this would help spur American pride back to the domestics or if the Japanese could hold on, Japanese pride. I don't like using American ingenuity on foreign cars.
Joe 4:37PM (7/11/2008)
They should have called it Stewart Haas Incorporated Technoligies or Stewart Haas Auto Racing Tech.
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pmiddle5 5:02PM (7/11/2008)
Home Depot is pissed
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motorman 8:19AM (7/12/2008)
home depot is in financial trouble so their NASCAR sponsorship may be in doubt
CORVETTE ZR1 6:23PM (7/11/2008)
Hell Yeah.... Team Chevy. we all know this would happen since the start of those Armor all ad's with the black Corvette in them. and i think they should kick Toyota & and all the stupid IRL & F1 Drive's out of Nascar for ever... make nascar American again... and on the sponsor docent Carl Edwards already have Office Depot ?
FYI my favorite Nascar drivers: 48 24 18 20 55.
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MoonRover 6:47PM (7/11/2008)
Great move Tony, glad to have you back in a "real American Car" Chevy.
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pmiddle5 12:18AM (7/12/2008)
A real American car with the motor designed in England and parts sourced from England =P
KCurtis 10:57AM (7/12/2008)
Yeah! A "real American car" that isn't made in America!
lol j/k
Justin 10:44PM (7/11/2008)
Agreed on the Armor All ads with Tony staring at the 'vette. Also, does anyone else remember that BBC powered Caddy hearse he has? (from Unique Autosport, I think)
Being a Chevy rep again, I can finally root for Tony Stewart again.
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nick 11:07PM (7/11/2008)
Every week I have to decipher which colors Jr has for the week, I loved TS's HD color scheme, will miss it..
My fav cars are:
36 24 36
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John 12:39AM (7/12/2008)
What happened? Did he get too fat to fit in the Gibbs car anymore?
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ME 4:46PM (7/12/2008)
Glad to see your fat but is back in the "American Car"......that is made in Mexico.
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KCurtis 10:51AM (7/12/2008)
I am not surprised that Tony is leaving Gibbs, however, I am really surprised that Toyota ever wanted to get involved with something where the majority of the fans are hicks.
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