Mine That Bird was a 51-to-1 long shot to win the Kentucky Derby yet completed one of the biggest upsets in the 135-year history of the prestigious event.
If Tony Stewart wins the 2009 Sprint Cup championship, 51-to-1 wouldn’t come close to covering it.
No one, including Stewart, would have predicted that level of success as a new owner/driver on the team that never was competitive before he took over.
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Stewart is a realistic contender for the championship, something most NASCAR observers thought was impossible in this era for a driver doubling as a team owner. Stretching the reach even more, as a new team owner.
More importantly, a championship is a reachable goal, something Stewart couldn’t imagine when his new role began this season.
But Stewart can see it now. Heck, he can almost taste it. That’s why winning isn’t his top priority.
What does it tell us?
One, that Stewart is an extraordinarily talented race car driver, proving he can compete up front for an organization that used to be an also-ran at best.
Two, he knows how to build a winning organization by putting quality people in key positions—Darian Grubb as his crew chief, Bobby Hutchens as director of competition and Ryan Newman as SHR’s other driver.
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