Tony Stewart Had Enough of JGR...

**neutral88** · July 9th, 2008, 10:18 AM

It's official, Tony has been released from JGR...I figured after he got out of the car saturday night it would be a done deal, A cup driver just doesn't "get out" for the flu...I can't say I blame him, something isn't right for him at JGR anymore, and he has never got along with Kyle, so I imagine team chemistry doesn't exist...

**neutral88** · July 9th, 2008, 10:27 AM

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Two-time NASCAR champion Tony Stewart has been granted a release from the final year of his driving contract with Joe Gibbs Racing after 10 seasons with the team, sources close to Stewart confirmed for ESPN.com Tuesday night.

Smoking 'Em

Tony Stewart ranks right up there with the best of them. Stewart sits fifth among active drivers with 32 career Sprint Cup wins and also has a pair of series championships to his name.

Most Cup Wins, Active Drivers Wins Series Titles
Jeff Gordon 81 4
Bill Elliott 44 1
Mark Martin 35 0
Jimmie Johnson 34 2
Tony Stewart 32 2*
*2002, 2005
Stewart will formally announce his departure from the team Wednesday.

On Thursday at Chicagoland Speedway, Stewart will formally announce a move to Haas/CNC Racing as co-owner and driver, sources close to Stewart said.

Haas/CNC, which currently fields the Nos. 66 and 70 Chevrolets, will be renamed Stewart Haas Racing in 2009.

Sources close to both sides told ESPN.com the deal will make Stewart the highest-paid driver in NASCAR.

Sources also said the Stewart Haas cars will carry different numbers. The No. 14, made famous in IndyCar racing by Stewart's hero, A.J. Foyt, is available, but sources would neither confirm nor deny that as his choice.

Sources said Stewart will own a 50 percent stake in the organization, but his financial investment in attaining it was not disclosed.

Per Stewart's agreement with JGR, he will not attempt to hire away any members of his current team. This was a significant key to making the deal happen because the only way that Gibbs felt comfortable with putting Joey Logano in the Cup Series so quickly was to surround him with Greg Zipadelli's established, experienced crew.

As ESPN.com's David Newton initially reported, Office Depot will have a role in sponsoring Stewart's car.

Ryan Newman remains the lead candidate to drive Stewart Haas' second car, sources said, though no deal had yet been finalized Tuesday night.

Stewart Haas will continue to receive chassis and engines from Hendrick Motorsports. Haas/CNC's current drivers, Scott Riggs and Johnny Sauter, are ranked 36th and 44th, respectively, in the owner point standings.

If the team's performance fails to improve its points position during the second half of 2008, Stewart's champion's provisional will guarantee him a slot in the field for the first five races next season, presuming NASCAR doesn't change the rule.

During his tenure at JGR, which began in 1999, Stewart has recorded 32 victories, a pair of Sprint Cup championships and more than $68 million in winnings. Stewart has reinvested his wealth in racing. He owns multiple sprint car teams and a trio of racetracks, including Eldora Speedway.

Marty Smith is the NASCAR reporter for ESPN. ESPN The Magazine's Ryan McGee contributed to this report.

**Blue smoke** · July 9th, 2008, 12:28 PM

I hope it works out for him. Getting cars and engines from Hendrick is definately a plus.

**neutral88** · July 9th, 2008, 12:45 PM

it should be good if newman comes on bored as well.....

only thing is drivers have had a hard time owning their own teams and driving for that team in the last several years

**starbuck** · July 9th, 2008, 05:15 PM

I'm a huge StewarT fan and would be still if he drove a Yugo but this scares me. I hope he can buck the trend of owner drivers over the last 20 years but it will be tough and with out Zippy by his side who is going to reel him in at times??
this could turn out to be a very bad situation but I don't see Tony driving for another 5 years. If he can get the team up and running really good I look for him to retire as a driver.

**neutral88** · July 9th, 2008, 05:18 PM

you may be right about the retiring thing starbuck...he has never really seemed to have that drive to be in the car some others have had over the years....

The only time anyone ever seen Big E cry was when he had to have a reliefe driver at Indy...It just seems Tony is ok with getting out from time to time