Nascar News

Truckers Connection

9/2/2008

September 6
Chevy Rock & Roll 400
Richmond International Speedway

September 14
Sylvania 300
New Hampshire Motor Speedway

September 21
Dover 400
Dover International Speedway

September 28
Kansas 400
Kansas Speedway

Stewart: add “owner” to the two-time cup champ’s title

We’d be remiss if we didn’t lead this month’s Nascar News by mentioning what is arguably the biggest news and biggest change to hit Nascar since…well, Dale Earnhardt Jr. left Dale Earnhardt Inc. So maybe big changes aren’t unusual in this sport of fast racing and fast changing after all. But if anyone predicted last year that this year would see Tony Stewart walk away from the orange No. 20 Home Depot of Joe Gibb’s Racing, that’s some crystal ball.

The partnership between this driver, this team, this car, this sponsor, this crew chief, heck, this COLOR, is legendary and nearly a decade old. But it turns out the driver portion was presented with an offer he couldn’t refuse. And the years of orange racing with Stewart at the wheel will conclude at the end of the ’08 season. Stewart is stepping away from Joe Gibbs Racing a year early to become half owner of the soon-to-be-called Stewart-Haas Racing. And a sweet deal it is — for both parties.

For the two-time champ, the deal cost him no investment funds. For the struggling organization, the deal cost them 50 percent, sure, but Stewart also brings to the table a wealth of opportunity only afforded to rare folks who have ownership experience (tracks and teams), driving ability (did we mention two-time champion?) and an uncanny ability to make sponsors happy (they’re fans of top 5 finishes, top 10 finishes, wins and championships). We hear he’s pals with some big wigs with lots of sponsorship capital as well.

As of press time, the new owner and his team were courting a potential second driver for the team, and the rumor mill is focused largely on Ryan Newman, who also just announced he’ll part ways with Penske Racing, a clear open door for Stewart-Haas and an ability to tap into one of the best qualifiers of all time.

Logano looking for a new 20

So Joey Logano is seeing some seat time in the No. 20 Nationwide car, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing; he chalked up a win in the car not long after getting in it for the first time. But the organization finds another 20 car in their stable currently vacant. Might Logano be on the fast track to the Cup Series with the imminent departure of one Tony Stewart? It would make sense. And Logano doesn’t hide that he’d jump at the chance if offered: “If they offer it to me, I’d take it,” said the 18 year old. “It’s something that has been talked about, but I’m not in a position to say anything. I don’t really know what I’m going to do yet. I’m focused on the No. 20 Nationwide car right now, and from there, that is Joe and J.D.’s deal.

“I definitely think it’s a cool thing to even have your name in the hat on that one,” Logano said. “It’s a great team and a great car. The car has won two championships with

Tony driving it. The whole team has been together for so long, and to be driving any car for Joe Gibbs Racing right now would be great.”

Great indeed as the newcomer is already becoming a fast favorite of fans. Time will tell if he’s tapped to fill the veteran Stewart’s shoes … or seat, such as the case may be.

Toyota takes horsepower hit in Nationwide Series

NASCAR tried to even out the competition in the Nationwide Series by ordering all teams using Toyota motors to squeeze down their horsepower by using a smaller restrictor that will knock down 15 horsepower in the motors. The order came just before Indianapolis race.

Toyota has dominated the Nationwide Series racking up all by one of their wins (as of press time) in the Camry of Joe Gibbs Racing. The one exception was a win by JGR driver Kyle Busch who hit victory lane in a car for Braun Racing.

NASCAR recently sent 10 different motors for testing and found that David Reutimann’s Toyota was the best with an estimated three percent horsepower advantage over the competition. JGR's No. 18 car was second. Roush Fenway Racing's Nos. 16 and 17 Fords were next, followed by JGR's No. 20 car, which has won nine races with four different drivers this season to date.

Technically, the new guidelines aren't directed solely at Toyota. But because the automaker is working with a brand new engine and has access to the latest technology, Toyota teams have gained an advantage over the manufacturers using older engine models. If the other manufacturers should reach the stage Toyota is currently at, they would be subject to the horsepower guidelines NASCAR mandated Wednesday. Chevrolet has been pushing to use its new engine in the Nationwide Series, and many believe that model is on par with the Toyota motors.