Success for Owner Tony Stewart
Well He has really been making waves since he decided to leave Joe Gibbs Racing. Stewart took on the role of owner and driver with an “also ran” team and is bringing it to NASCAR racing victory closer every week.
Back in 1998, Stewart started stock car racing with Joe Gibbs racing. Tony Stewart won the rookie of the year award at the Winston Cup Series in 1999. Stewart left an exceptional NASCAR racing team with a record of 33 races won and 2 championships to become owner and driver of a has been team. That team barely had 5 top five finishes since 2003.
After only took 8 races Tony Stewart shut down the NASCAR racing critics by finishing in the top ten in 6 of those races. He is fourth in the Sprint Cup standings, right along with heavy hitters like Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson.
In addition, Stewart is getting better every week! At Phoenix, Stewart hit second place, his best finish to date. Stewart is a favorite to win at the Talladega Super Speedway. If Stewart wins that NASCAR race, he would be the first driver to win a race in a car that he owns since 1998, when Ricky Rudd won at Martinsville. That would be a fantastic feat for Stewart.
Stewart Haas Racing is using resources from Hendrick Motorsports, which is a powerhouse team. No wonder they are doing well so early in this NASCAR racing season. He is in the top 5 in the Sprint Cup championship standings and in average running position and driver rating.
Tony Stewart’s teammate, Ryan Newman has not been as successful. Even so the team has improved tremendously since the season began. It was a shaky start, after only the 4th race, in Atlanta; Newman nearly lost his place in the top 35 of the Sprint Cup owner’s standings. Newman is number 17 now and looking to be 12 soon. He had top ten finishes at Bristol and Martinsville. Newman saw potential in Tony Stewart’s NASCAR racing ideas at Stewart Haas Racing and made the career choice to join his team. Of course, it was a risk to leave Penske Racing. Newman began in 2000 racing stock cars with Penske Racing part time for the ARCA series. He won 13 races including one Daytona 500.
Yes, Stewart Hass Racing is soaring right now. With a strong management team and experienced and talented crew chiefs, Darian Grubb and Tony Gibson. Bobby Hutchens and Matt Borland fill out this NASCAR racing team. Hutchens came to the team from Dale Earnhardt, Inc . Borland has been with Newman since their time at Penske Racing.
Tony Stewart is confident a win is on the horizon for Stewart Haas Racing. And so are lots of NASCAR racing fans. Tony Stewart seems relaxed with no one else directing his career path. So long as he is pleased with the effort and results, all is well.
