Tony Stewart teams with Haas Racing for 2009

Tony Stewart has been released from his contract with Joe Gibbs Racing. This announcement made at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Illinois, confirms recent rumors of Tony Stewart leaving the number 20 Home Depot Toyota. Stewart will partner with Haas Racing for the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup season to become Stewart Haas Racing.

Haas Racings on track presence has been sketchy at best. So far, during the 2008 season, Haas racing has failed to qualify numerous times and has yet to break the top 15 in any race with either the number 66 or number 70 Chevrolets. A number of drivers such as Jeff Green, Johnny Sauter, Jason Leffler, and Scott Riggs have driven the Haas cars.

Tony Stewart has many racing affiliations under his belt and is sure to be nothing less than an asset as a driver and part owner of the Stewart Haas Racing team. Stewart owns Eldora Speedway, a half-mile dirt track that is located in Rossburg, Ohio. He is part owner of Paducah International Raceway along with NASCAR’s Kenny Schrader and Dale Earnhardt JR. in Paducah, Kentucky. In Macon, Illinois, Stewart is also co-owner of the Macon Speedway with Kenny Schrader and Kenny Wallace.

Owning a race team is not a first time event for Stewart, Tony Stewart Racing owns four racing teams in the World of Outlaws and USAC racing series. TSR drivers Tracy Hines, Levi Jones, Kraig Kinser, and Donny Schatz have supplied Tony Stewart with several wins during the 2008-racing season.

Stewart will continue to drive in the NASCAR Sprint Cup series during the 2009 season. He will be seen in the number 66 Chevrolet. Unfortunately, Greg (Zippy) Zipadelli will not be following Stewart in his new ownership venture. Zippy will remain with Joe Gibbs Racing ending the dynamic duo of Zippy and Stewart.

Details of sponsors and drivers for the 2009 Stewart Haas Racing teams are unclear at this time, although the rumors have started. Rumor has it that Ryan Newman, driver of the number 12 Alltel Dodge will be driving for Stewart Haas Racing next year. It is also rumored that UPS will be a primary sponsor on one of the Stewart Haas cars. As the Silly Season rumors begin already only time will tell where your favorite driver will end up.

By: Ryanick Paige
Published: 07/14/08

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2 Posted Comments:

@ 1:07 pm 07/30/08 by DeanSmithLegend

Tony Stewart is one tough hombre.

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@ 3:17 pm 09/01/08 by C.D. Crowder

I think this will be a great move for him. With all the changes in Nascar lately, Stewart moving was inevitable. The Gibbs team has proven they care more about the younger talent, so what else is Stewart to do than find a better situation? Great article!

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