Stewart Should Say Exactly ‘What He Will Do’
Jul 01, 2008
CIA Stock Photo, Inc.
It’s been rumored that Stewart will leave Joe Gibbs Racing at the end of this season, even though he has another year left on his contract.
Reports have circulated that he will join Haas CNC Racing, of which he will become a part owner. Recently, it’s been said that Stewart has the chance to acquire sponsors for the team – Office Depot, Burger King and Bass Pro Shops have been mentioned – and will bring either Martin Truex Jr. or Ryan Newman with him as a teammate.
Stewart also said that he was interested in the Hendrick Motorsports No. 5 Chevrolet that will be vacated by Casey Mears at the end of the season. He added there were also a couple of ARCA rides that might be available to him.
The speculation about Stewart’s future and his coy attitude toward it has undoubtedly been a distraction for his No. 20 Gibbs team. Team president J.D. Gibbs has admitted that the issue has been a nuisance.
It likely has caused a lack of competitive focus for both Stewart and his Gibbs cohorts. That’s not unusual when a team has a driver it thinks doesn’t want to stay with it - and much of that driver’s mind is occupied by his future rather than the task at hand.
For any team, uncertainty and a lack of focus aren’t good.
Although he has yet to win this season – and he could have more than once had he not experienced ill fortune (and that includes New Hampshire) – Stewart has a proven tendency to ramp it up during the second half of a season.
