One year ago at Chicagoland Speedway, Tony Stewart announced he was striking out on his own, leaving the security of Joe Gibbs Racing to launch his Sprint Cup team in concert with Haas CNC Racing.
Today, leading the Sprint Cup standings, Stewart is no longer thinking about getting his operation off the ground. He’s thinking championship. USA Today
No one really knew what to expect. But one year into his new deal, Stewart’s racing operation is sporting the look of one that will have a long and very successful run in the sport.
“A year ago, I was about half scared to death, ” Stewart admitted as he prepared for Sunday’s LifeLock.com 400 at Chicagoland. “Obviously I had made a decision that was definitely a life-changing and a different career-path decision for sure. “
Stewart said he wasn’t certain at the time what it would all mean. He added that he has been pleasantly surprised.
“It was hard to anticipate what exactly the reality of the changes were going to be and what the rules were going to be, ” Stewart said. “We thought we had an idea of what it was going to be like and it hasn’t disappointed us, but it’s been smoother than I thought it was going to be.
It has been so smooth that it has been nothing short of remarkable. Stewart hired Bobby Hutchens as competition director and Darian Grubb to be the crew chief of his No. 14 Chevrolet, and eventually hired Ryan Newman to drive the other Stewart-Haas car, the No. 39, with Tony Gibson as Newman’s crew chief.
Heading into Sunday’s event, Stewart is coming off his second points win of the season last Saturday at Daytona (he also won $1 million by capturing the non-points All-Star Race at Charlotte in May). Stewart remains entrenched in first in the point standings, and Newman is seventh. Both appear to be in great position to be among the 12 drivers who will make the Chase. NASCAR.com
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