The Latest NASCAR News, from a Rowdy Point of View

Don't waste your time pouring through other websites to find out what's important...grab the straight scoop for every thing you NEED to know right here on Rowdy. No paint scheme news, just what you gotta know to keep up with the greatest sport in America. Don't forget to leave us your comments, too!

The Latest Nascar News

Smoke & Gibbs: Conflicting Agendas?

Smoke_and_zippy_2

Rowdy’s Take on the News:

Perhaps Tony Stewart’s recent news conference at Indianapolis Motor Speedway can give us some insight into his future plans.

First of all, he was there with Chevy officials to unveil the new engine the bow-tie brigade has developed for Smoke’s USAC ride. The fact that Tony’s affiliation with Chevrolet has remained close despite Joe Gibbs Racing’s switch to Toyota is not exactly news. It is, however, an important piece in a larger puzzle.

Second of all, let’s look at Stewart’s comments while at Indy. When asked about running the Indy 500 again, he is quoted at IndyStar.com as replying, “If I am going to do it, I need to start at Homestead (Fla.) and I need to run all the races leading up to the month of May to really feel like I am being fair to the team and being fair to myself. I'm not going to be one of these guys who just shows up and runs the Indy 500. I've run the Indy 500. I want to win the Indy 500.” That approach would, at the very least, dictate a part-time Cup campaign.

We all know that Tony will not feel complete without an Indy 500 victory to add to his resume. We also know that JD Gibbs has expressly forbidden him to even contemplate entering the Indy 500. It certainly does seem as if there may be conflicting agendas between team and driver.

~Cutler

TAGS: Tony Stewart, JD Gibbs, Joe Gibbs Racing, Chevrolet, Indy 500, Indy Racing League, indianapolis motor speedway

Average Rating:

1
2
3
4
5

Stewart is going to show up wearing a bow tie every chance he gets until Toyota finally tells Gibbs to let him go to RCR or DEI. Only way he stays with Gibbs is if they change car make to a To"n"yota.

d37
11:12:51 05-10-2008

Smoke's return to IRL would definitely boost their ratings. I think he may venture back in a few years, but I believe Tony has become rooted in Nascar. He's really grown into his place in cup over the last 4 or 5 seasons.

ryan
07:36:58 05-09-2008

I think the same article said that due his NASCAR obligations, he couldn't commit to the Indy deal. I have to agree with Clint's blog. Big money contract in NASCAR and then ride off into the Indy sunset...

JeffInRoswell
15:15:26 05-08-2008

I for one would love to see him get his own NASCAR team, get it on solid footing and then venture into the IRL again full time. Their schedule is open enough that he could come back to NASCAR and cherry pick the events he wants to run in. It would be a wonderful throwback to the days of his hero...

Oh, and as of a recent rules change, the minimum car weight in the IRL now INCLUDES the driver, so there's no need for Tony to go on that Subway diet anytime soon...

X:)

Racer X
13:53:15 05-08-2008

I believe Curt Cavin at the Indystar said that basically he thinks Tony will do whatever he can to drive his price up really high, race NASCAR for about 5 more years, and then come back to Indycar for his last couple full-time race seasons to try to win Indy. By the way...Tony would need to lose about 30 to 50 pounds to race Indycars seriously.

Clint
12:44:21 05-08-2008