Jul 10 2008
Stewart-Haas Racing
Joe Gibbs Racing has a job recent job opening, the description of the job is, Championship contender seeks savy driver for Number 20 Home Depot Car; Driver must be ready to compete at a championship level. After it was announced Wednesday that Gibbs would part ways with 2-time Sprint Cup Champion Tony Stewart at the end of the year.
What is known is that Stewart will become part owner of the former Haas CNC Racing, which will now become Stewart-Haas Racing. Stewart left Gibbs Racing after 10 years with the organization and 2 Championships. He will race in another car for the first time in his career.
Stewart was expected to be one of the top free-agents in NASCAR, but chose self-employment instead. A bit of a shocking move for him, as NASCAR is having some sponsorship issues for its race teams. Stewart holds majority ownership of his future car as well as the 66 car.
What is not known is who will sponsor Stewarts Sprint Cup Car and what number he will choose. All speculation has him requesting the number 14 for his car and that Office Depot will be the sponsor. Scott Riggs is the current driver for the number 66 car now owned by Stewart and is not expected to return to the car next year.
Stewart will be searching for a top driver to fill the potential opening for the 66 car. His competition will be his former boss Joe Gibbs, who is looking for a driver to take over the 20 car. With Joey Logano waiting for his shot in the Sprint Cup, it seems more than likely he will be the driver behind the wheel of the 20 car next year.
Logano has not been in a Sprint Cup race, but has done well in Nationwide Races this season. He is a young driver but has looked impressive at every level he has raced in. Stewart will be a competitive owner at the Sprint Cup level, with enough money and big enough name to have top sponsorship.
It is not an easy or light task for any NASCAR driver to own his own team and turn it into a Championship winner or contender. It does seem like the right driver to make it happen is Tony Stewart.
