The two-time Nextel Cup champion has been rumored to be very disappointed with the switch at Joe Gibbs Racing from Chevrolet to Toyota beginning with the 2008 season. Stewart has an "out" clause if there is a “material change” at JGR which would be the move to Toyota.
__________________
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Last edited by mrsmopar12 : 10-19-2007 at 08:39 PM.
Reason: removed link to other Nascar forum
I edited your post to remove the addy for the Nascar forum that you posted. We have had problems with this individual spamming his forum on here in the past, so I am sure our Adm, NascarSpace, wouldn't want it posted here again! I am posting the article you refer to for the benefit of our other members.
Thank you for your reply to my question.
P.S. Don't believe everything you read on the internet! ~LOL~
"THE NEXT BIG FREE AGENT" - STEWART HEADED TO CHILDRESS?
After the New Hampshire Nextel Cup Race in September, Tony Stewart was asked about his impending contract extension with Joe Gibbs Racing. Gibbs has been the only Nextel Cup owner Stewart has worked for in his nine year career and it seemed a given that Stewart would sign an extension without hesitation. However, Stewart’s answer to the relatively simple question raised some eyebrows on pit road. And now we may know why.
"I'm not even going to work on it any more until this season is over - seriously," said Stewart. "All these (outside) things like right now are a total distraction to what I'm trying to accomplish the rest of the season, and that's why I'm not going to do any more than I have to do until the end of the year," he said. "My goal is to win the championship and focus on the things I have to focus on to get that done."
Then a week later, NASCAR.com reported that Richard Childress would likely “hold off” on developing a fourth team to go along with his current stable of drivers, Kevin Harvick, Jeff Burton, and Clint Bowyer until 2009. NASCAR nation had been waiting months for Childress to name his fourth driver for 2008 and speculation was rampant as to whom the driver would be.
"We're working on it, but right now we're about at the point of no return [for next season]," said Childress.
Hmmm…Stewart isn’t ready to re-up with Gibbs (Stewart’s current contract runs through 2009), and Childress says he isn’t ready to commit to a driver yet for 2008. Coincidence? Not really.
Sources close to Richard Childress confirmed to Captain Thunder that Tony Stewart has indeed had conversations with Richard Childress about joining the RCR stables and good buddy Kevin Harvick as soon as 2008. Stewart has driven Busch Series cars for Harvick and Harvick’s wife DeLana, and the three have been very close for many years.
Why would Stewart leave Gibbs and can he? The two-time Nextel Cup champion has been rumored to be very disappointed with the switch at Joe Gibbs Racing from Chevrolet to Toyota beginning with the 2008 season, and sources say he has had serious conversations with Richard Childress about voiding his contract at seasons end.
Stewart has driven a General Motors car his entire career and he also supports the Chevy brand at the hometown racetrack he bought in New Weston, OH, Eldora Speedway. Eldora was a Mopar supported track but Stewart switched everything at the track to Chevy two years ago. Toyota has said they are fine with Stewart running and supporting Chevrolet at the track he owns, but sources say Stewart is not excited about running Toyota’s in the Nextel Cup Series.
Can he get out of his deal with JGR early? Yes! Stewart has an “out clause” in his contract and he just might use it to join RCR. His “out” is the manufacturer change to Toyota from Chevrolet. Many Nextel Cup drivers have similar clauses in their contracts allowing them to void their deals if there is a “material change” at their respective teams. The decision by JGR to change manufacturers is certainly a “material change” and it would allow Stewart to opt out of his deal early.
According to sources, Stewart and Childress have agreed to table any conversations in the media until either the Chase for the Nextel Cup is over, or Stewart is mathematically eliminated.
Hence, the comments by both follow the New Hampshire race. Nevertheless, sources also said the two have already agreed verbally on a deal that would put Stewart in a Richard Childress Chevrolet in 2008. Keep an eye on this one, “Smoke” could be a part of the bow-tie brigade next season after all. - Captain Thunder
__________________
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Ryan Newman, Daytona 500 Champion!! To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Last edited by mrsmopar12 : 10-19-2007 at 08:44 PM.
Reason: grammar wasn't no good! :-)
[b]
Wow first we had rampant unfounded Rumors about Lil E now that thats settled I guess were moving on to Tony?
"Then a week later, NASCAR.com reported that Richard Childress would likley “hold off” on developing a fourth team to go along with his current stable of drivers, Kevin Harvick, Jeff Burton, and Clint Bowyer until 2009. NASCAR nation had been waiting months for Childress to name his fourth driver for 2008 and speculation was rampant as to whom the driver would be."
RCR may well have decided that with ALL THREE of its teams involved in The Chase for the Cup now would not be a good time to start putting together a 4th team for 2008. And yes they would have to start NOW to get a team together for 2008.
Who the heck is Captain Thunder anyway???
__________________ If You Wont Stand Behind OUR TROOPS please feel free to stand in front of them
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Tony's contract goes til '09 but does anyone think hendricks will get rid of clint bowyer and recruit tony??? Would that be a kick ass team or what????
I am far from being a jeff gordon fan but hendricks would have 4 awesome drivers.
Hendricks doesn't have Bowyer he's at RCR.and RCR would not have to get rid of anybody to put Tony on.
__________________
Just when I think you said the stupidest thing ever .....You keep talking To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Tony's contract goes til '09 but does anyone think hendricks will get rid of clint bowyer and recruit tony??? Would that be a kick ass team or what????
I am far from being a jeff gordon fan but hendricks would have 4 awesome drivers.
What? even without the confusion between RCR and Hendricks I,d like to point out that that CLINT BOWYER IS ALSO A AWESOME DRIVER AND IS AHEAD OF TWO OF HENDRICKS DRIVERS IN POINTS.
Sorry bout that yellin just had to get that out there!!!
__________________ If You Wont Stand Behind OUR TROOPS please feel free to stand in front of them
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Stewart to leave JGR? UPDATE: Sources tell Sports Illustrated that #20-Tony Stewart is working on the final stages of a deal to move from Joe Gibbs Racing to Haas CNC next season. Considering the ramifications of such a move, no one's admitting anything quite yet, as you'd expect. When reached for comment, Haas CNC Racing spokesman Ron Mench claims there's been no communication between Stewart and the organization. Stewart's PR spokesman Mike Arning was noncommittal ("I've heard what you've heard," when asked about Haas CNC) but he reminded SI [Sports Illustrated] that Stewart's contract with Gibbs runs through the 2009 season. "He's there this year and he's there next year," claimed Arning. "And I know for a fact that JGR is interested in retaining Tony for '10 and beyond. They'd like him to retire at Joe Gibbs Racing. As Tony's said many times, 'Nothing's broke. Why change it?' Tony's going to have a lot of options in front of him; why wouldn't he? But I don't see [an early out happening] ... everyone is going to live up to the terms of the contract that runs through '09." However, sources are adamant that not just the talking, but deal-making is already taking place for Stewart to go elsewhere. And, while sometimes a formidable opponent, contracts can be easily bought out, as Jamie McMurray and Kurt Busch have shown us in recent years.(Sports Illustrated), am sure this will be much dicussed about over the weekend at Talladega.(4-23-2008)
UPDATE: Tony Stewart has begun discussion with Joe Gibbs Racing officials about his future with the company, ESPN.com has learned. And that future, sources say, is questionable. Multiple sources close to the situation who spoke on condition of anonymity said Stewart told Gibbs officials that he'd like to be released from the final year of his current driving contract, which expires at the conclusion of the 2009 season. "He definitely has some options," JGR president J.D. Gibbs said. "To me it's no different than any of the options he's had before. The reality is he's racing here through 2009. There's no ifs, ands or buts about that one. Our stance is he's racing for us through 2009." Sources said Stewart is intrigued by the thought of team ownership. One potential scenario mentioned was a partnership with Haas/CNC Racing, under which Stewart would own as much as a 50 percent stake in the race team that currently fields the # 66 and 70 Chevys. Under that scenario he would drive one of those two machines. Such a move would reunite Stewart with Chevy, which sources said was of the utmost importance to the driver, given that he's driven for General Motors for most of his career, and that GM sponsors Stewart's open wheel sprint car program.(ESPN.com)(4-24-2008)
__________________ Auto racing, bull fighting and mountain climbing are the only real sports... the rest are just games........ Earnest Hemmingway
__________________
Just when I think you said the stupidest thing ever .....You keep talking To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
thanks SF!!
Linear Mode
