At the Track

We'll note happenings at the national and local levels of racing.

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Should I stay or should I go?



To coin a Clash phrase.

Should Tony stay at Gibbs Racing or should he go?

Seriously. Sports Illustrated is reporting Smoke is in talks with Haas CNC Racing to join them and move back to Chevrolet.

Really? There's not a named source in the entire article, which also claims Tony would have an owner's-stake in the team.

Let's look at this for a moment. Tony and Gibbs have won two titles together. Tony's won 32 races and two Brickyards. Of course, every bit of that was with General Motors cars.

How's Toyota been for JGR?

Let's see. Denny Hamlin's won. Kyle Busch's won. Tony hasn't. If I was ol' Smoke, I'd be a little torqued over that fact. But he's been pretty gracious overall about his teammates taking the checkered flag before him in the new, new cars.

He's not said much about Toyota performance. Tires yes, Toyota no. It's pretty well noted he's a fan of GM as a manufacturer.

Tony's contract runs through 2009, and he's said several times this year he wants to concentrate on driving and hopefully the contract thing will be settled mid-season.

As for being an owner in Sprint Cup? I remember him saying that wasn't something that he was espeicially interested in being. He was happy with Eldora, World of Outlaws and his other ventures.

He's the one in the driver's seat in more ways than one. It's his name on the champion's trophies. He's marketable. He's someone you either love or love to hate. When you see orange, Home Depot or #20, you think Tony Stewart. He's outspoken. And very, very charitable.

Maybe SI can get something from a named source, like maybe Tony himself or J.D. Gibbs.

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