RGFan
April 12th, 2008, 22:38
Interesting article....
AVONDALE, Ariz. - There's not another driver in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series garage that has given more back to grassroots racing than Tony Stewart.
But the hot rumor on Friday was that the two-time Sprint Cup Series champion could be giving back to NASCAR, in a sense, by entering into a partnership with Haas CNC Racing — an opportunity that would reunite Stewart with Chevrolet at the NASCAR level.
Stewart, who is under contract to Joe Gibbs Racing through the 2009 season, was in talks regarding his future with Coach Gibbs earlier in the week. When Stewart was asked whether or not he had interest in being an owner in the Cup garage he joked, "I don't think I'm politically correct enough to be an owner in NASCAR."
However, one veteran owner disagreed.
"Smoke is exactly what this garage needs," said the owner.
Since Dale Earnhardt's death in the 2001 Daytona 500, there hasn't been a racer/owner able to stand-up for the needs and the concerns of competitors that NASCAR would take seriously.
Stewart certainly could be that guy.
Stewart's relationship with General Motors extends to his World of Outlaws teams with Donny Schatz and Kraig Kinser. His USAC Midget and Sprint car squads with Tracy Hines and Levi Jones are also Chevrolets. And Chevrolet is the official vehicle of Stewart's famed dirt track Eldora Speedway, which will host Prelude to the Dream — the new International Race of Champions — on June 4 to support Victory Junction Camp II in Kansas City.
Alba Colon, GM Racing program manager for NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, said Stewart was already in the Chevy camp but would not comment further on his possible ownership of a Cup enterprise.
Haas began racing full-time in 2004 and has an alliance with Hendrick Motorsports.
AVONDALE, Ariz. - There's not another driver in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series garage that has given more back to grassroots racing than Tony Stewart.
But the hot rumor on Friday was that the two-time Sprint Cup Series champion could be giving back to NASCAR, in a sense, by entering into a partnership with Haas CNC Racing — an opportunity that would reunite Stewart with Chevrolet at the NASCAR level.
Stewart, who is under contract to Joe Gibbs Racing through the 2009 season, was in talks regarding his future with Coach Gibbs earlier in the week. When Stewart was asked whether or not he had interest in being an owner in the Cup garage he joked, "I don't think I'm politically correct enough to be an owner in NASCAR."
However, one veteran owner disagreed.
"Smoke is exactly what this garage needs," said the owner.
Since Dale Earnhardt's death in the 2001 Daytona 500, there hasn't been a racer/owner able to stand-up for the needs and the concerns of competitors that NASCAR would take seriously.
Stewart certainly could be that guy.
Stewart's relationship with General Motors extends to his World of Outlaws teams with Donny Schatz and Kraig Kinser. His USAC Midget and Sprint car squads with Tracy Hines and Levi Jones are also Chevrolets. And Chevrolet is the official vehicle of Stewart's famed dirt track Eldora Speedway, which will host Prelude to the Dream — the new International Race of Champions — on June 4 to support Victory Junction Camp II in Kansas City.
Alba Colon, GM Racing program manager for NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, said Stewart was already in the Chevy camp but would not comment further on his possible ownership of a Cup enterprise.
Haas began racing full-time in 2004 and has an alliance with Hendrick Motorsports.