As a long time Smoke fan, I hate to see him leave JGR. I guess money is more important than wins. We all see how Haas is running - it should be more like "Ass Racing". And to join a business with a guy that's in jail - wow. Talk about going from one extreme to the other - from the Coach to the Jailbird. All I think of was when he made comments about DW ( racing on the champs provisional the last two years of his career). a racing fan once told me "where there is Smoke , there is fire". Wrong, if you see smoke look for the cash and his missing sack! I will now step down off the soap box!

Good post Shane

We have all made questionable choices. Hopefully he can make the most out of the situation and line up a future in the sport after he stops running.

WoW! Way 2 go Shane. I didnt hear all the latest scoop cuz Ive been working 2 1/2 wks strait.
I dont really understand why people make the decisions they do in life, we've all done things we probably shouldnt have. Like I did w/ D.W.; I just hope it works for him.

I will it admit it is a curious decision but the way I think about it, the impact to NASCAR will be good for the sport. I look at it as Tony will add an ownership that will be NASCAR continue to grow and a voice to help keep NASCAR in it's place.

He is a dedicated owner in many series of racing. WOO, Silver crown, modified etc.. His teams are constantly top teams year after year. I have no doubt that he will bring that same level of success to Haas eventually. It may take some time but they will get there.

This isn't the first driver that became an owner. Childress and Hendricks (who is a so called jail bird as well) were both drivers and have done quite well for themselves and the sport.

...Shane....I waited a few days to respond as to not disrespect my chapter president ....j/k

Honestly I think its an ill advised move right now...he should have stuck with Gibbs at least long enough to see what the Toyotas had to offer....theyre looking better very week

But without a doubt, his team will be dominant at some point, and Im willing to bet theres at least one more cup champ year in it before he quits driving....I just may need to become a Kahne fan in the mean time

I think it's a sign of maturity. He was offered 50% of a NASCAR race team for basically free. Who amoung us wouldn't have taken the same deal given his age?

YEP! U got that rite Chuck. I know I would.

I keep hearing Newman may have been offered some sort of ownership package to Stewart/Haas as well. There is supposed to be an anouncement next weekend. It is all but guaranteed that Newman is leaving Dodge.

tony stewart has a personal contract with chevrolet. everything he drives except in nascar is chevrolet. his diirt track, eldora speedway in kentucky, is sponsered by chevrolet. he even stated that he does not like toyota. chevrolet can out and said they would buy tony's contract.

He may be getting all his stuff from Hendrick, but do we really think he's gonna get the best from them? Jr., Gordon, Johnson are not gonna let that happen. I'd rather be the big dog at Toyota, and third string at Chevy. And a real racer would drive a Kia if it was the best car he could get. I'm not saying Tony's not a real racer - I've been a fan for some time. But, when they look at a driver - the only thing that comes to mind is "WINS". I don't care who you are, just win baby! And that's something he hasn't done for a little while. Maybe he just feels better in a Chevy
But he'll do it in 4th place on back.

quote:

But he'll do it in 4th place on back

Think about something. How domiant are the toyos right now? Especially the gibbs toyos. If Tony had not had some weird stuff happen, you could ass 3 more wins to the year to date total. Now, Tony knows a thing or 2 about building and working on cars. He was his own mechanic in the early days so has a pretty good knowledge of the nuts and bolts of the cup cars. Now he is going to be taking that knowledge to his new team. I kind of tend to think that will be huge.

For the first year, I feel finishing in the top 15 in points would be considered a huge success. If he makes the Chase, added bonus.

The more I hear about the guy, the more I respect him. Taking the number 14 in honor of AJ Foyt is just flippin cool IMO. What other driver would be that unselfish to turn down his old number (4 is Tony's very first number and will be run on the second Stewart/Haas car)and take the nuumber of his mentor and hero. IMO that is just flippin cool.