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BALTIMORE (Map, News) - Could one rainy afternoon cause Tony Stewart to leave Joe Gibbs Racing?
The way things are going for the No. 20 team right now, it might happen.
After starting 28th in the LENOX Industrial Tools 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Sunday, Stewart raced to the front, leading 138 laps on his way to what would have been his first win of the season.
Then his luck ran out — again.
A call for two tires on his final pit stop shuffled Stewart back in the field, so when rain arrived to end the race with just under 20 laps remaining, he watched Kurt Busch make the trip to victory lane.
For Stewart, who finished 13th, his misfortune was just another chapter in a season where nothing has seemed to go his way.
“We’ve just not had any luck all year,” said Stewart before Sunday’s race. “Seems like the races that we do get ourselves in good position, toward the end something bad happens and we get out of that position.”
The problem — at least for Joe Gibbs Racing — is Stewart’s run of bad luck is happening at the same time that his phone is ringing off the hook with opportunities to drive for other teams.
A part-ownership deal with Haas Racing reportedly has topped the list of contenders to land Stewart, but with the announcement this weekend that Hendrick Motorsports is looking to replace Casey Mears in the No. 5 car, everything became more complicated.
“After today’s announcement [at Hendrick], It may be pushed back even more now,” Stewart said of his upcoming decision. “There’s nobody in this garage area that’s not going to look that direction … you’ve got to look at that.”
Opportunities abound, but Stewart already is in one of the sport’s best organizations — and new teammate Kyle Busch is one of many who do not want to see Smoke leave.
“I hope he decides to stay — he’s been a great friend and a great teammate this year,” Busch said. “I’m hoping he gets all the things worked out with JGR where he can continue to drive that 20.”
Busch, who has won five times, may be contributing to Stewart’s dilemma. With so much success in his first season at JGR, Busch has not only grabbed the headlines, but he also has cast a shadow over the No. 20 team that may have Stewart looking for a way out.
Is it time for Stewart to move on? It’s hard to say. For Stewart’s longtime friend Dale Earnhardt Jr., leaving Dale Earnhardt Incorporated last year was the right choice, but his move was based on substandard equipment and an ongoing feud with his owner.
Stewart, however, has won two championships at Gibbs Racing. But the driver nicknamed “Smoke” is being forced to make a decision in the middle of an unfortunate run of bad luck — something that should not be a factor, but will be.
If Stewart leaves JGR, it should be for the right reasons.
After all, you can’t let one rainy day ruin your season.
Get up to speed on the latest in NASCAR —listen to Wilson’s Race Report every weeknight at 8:20 on 93.1 WPOC.
Comments from Examiner Readers
12:09 PM MST on Fri., Jul. 18, 2008 re: "Gibbs’ greatness extends from Lombardi Trophy to checkered flag"
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5:53 AM MST on Tue., Jun. 10, 2008
re: "Dover provides unique experience for drivers, fans"
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9:31 AM MST on Wed., Mar. 26, 2008
re: "Bring some excitement back to qualifying"
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8:59 AM MST on Wed., Mar. 26, 2008
re: "Bring some excitement back to qualifying"
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6:06 AM MST on Wed., Mar. 26, 2008
re: "Bring some excitement back to qualifying"
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5:26 PM MST on Tue., Mar. 11, 2008
re: "Stewart hoping Goodyear can reinvent the tire"
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2:32 AM MST on Tue., Mar. 11, 2008
re: "Stewart hoping Goodyear can reinvent the tire"
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3:12 PM MST on Mon., Mar. 3, 2008
re: "Montoya's NASCAR win is impressive"
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7:38 PM MST on Thu., Nov. 22, 2007
re: "NASCAR puts focus on wins and comes out victorious"
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7:55 AM MST on Wed., Sep. 5, 2007
re: "Gibbs gambles big, but Toyota is winner"
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9:15 AM MST on Thu., Jul. 19, 2007
re: "Stewart adds personality to the drab world of NASCAR"
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9:42 AM MST on Wed., Jul. 18, 2007
re: "Stewart adds personality to the drab world of NASCAR"
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9:23 AM MST on Wed., Jul. 18, 2007
re: "Stewart adds personality to the drab world of NASCAR"
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2:42 PM MST on Tue., Jun. 5, 2007
re: "Dover provides unique experience for drivers, fans"
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10:42 AM MST on Tue., May. 22, 2007
re: "Big teams are beginning to make NASCAR smaller"
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9:23 PM MST on Fri., May. 4, 2007
re: "Time for Dale Jr. to move on?"
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5:41 PM MST on Thu., May. 3, 2007
re: "Time for Dale Jr. to move on?"
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11:59 PM MST on Tue., May. 1, 2007
re: "Time for Dale Jr. to move on?"
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10:41 PM MST on Tue., May. 1, 2007
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Examiner Reader said:
All Gibbs is doing is cheating with toyota's money
2 agree | 2 disagree
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jeremiah said:
i think dodge will pickup a little bit and start competing, i mean really. kyle busch is all toyota's got
7 agree | 9 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
For those teams that are in the top 35, if they incure a rules violation in a pre-qualifying inspection, they should NOT be allow to qualify as they normally do, they should qualify with the teams that are not in the top 35. If they then fail to qualify, then they don't make the race.
9 agree | 10 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
"Bring some excitement back to qualifying" ------- Hi, You are very WRONG about the TOP 35 Rule! With the teams having to try and stay in the TOP 35 Rule, they have to RACE harder on Sundays to do so. If not for the TOP 35 Rule, once they were in the race, they could just cruse around on Sunday and it wouldn't matter where they finished, with the TOP 35 Rule, it makes them have to RACE harder and the race is more important to fans than qualifying!!!
10 agree | 12 disagree
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Paul said:
Hey, I dislike the top 35 rule as much as anyone. I still think the fastest 43 should get in and if Junior, Johnson, anyone named Gordon or Petty is not up to speed and somebody with a one-off deal gets in, then good for them. The so-called experts disagree with me, but let a top shoe miss a race or two and see how quickly they get better.
13 agree | 11 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Hey igorant reader at 2:32 I would like to see you try it sometime bet you will not last 100 laps
12 agree | 9 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
driving a car is a sport? these guys get too much press and are impressed with themselves.
9 agree | 12 disagree
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Race Fan said:
I don't believe that the best driver on the planet is driving for NASCAR. This is a waste. Please come back to the real racing sport. We will always wait for Juan Pablo Montoya.
39 agree | 43 disagree
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newman rocks said:
newman is a nice guy and never blames any1 else newman NEVER complains like jeff gordon OR tony stewart i think jeff gordon and tony stewart are some of the best drivers at present and that ever drove in nascar i just do not like them at all
148 agree | 138 disagree
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Kyle Busch said:
Take that all you non toyota lover- some of your biggest chevy driver are coming here to toyota, non surprising of Penske Racing South join toyota in 2009...or if Honda and Nissan Join Nascar and soon it will be the american Big 3 ( GM, Ford,DaimlerChysler) Vs The Japanes Big 3 (Toyota,Honda,Nissan)
152 agree | 163 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Tony is the closest thing we've got to the old school drivers. Praise God for his personality. NASCAR has become a muddled P.C. sport as much as it needs to. He is breath of fresh air to me each race weekend. Even when he takes out his teamate and half the most popular drivers- he blames them. LOL!! It reminds me of watching the sport in the late 70's and early 80's. AWESOME. LOVE TONY STEWART!!!!
186 agree | 164 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Stewart is so fun to watch! He is fearless when it comes to saying whats on his mind. He doesn't say the predictable pre programmed garbage the other drivers vomit each week. Stewart is wild! Whenever the camera goes on him I run to the television because he is so unpredictable. No matter what anyone says about him, he brings fun to the NASCAR circuit. Without him I would not watch NASCAR each week. I could go on about his enormous talent but I think his INDY CAR, WINTON CUP, NEXTEL CUP championships, to only mention a few, tells the tale. Stewart is an asset to NASCAR. Without him NASCAR would be a snoozefest. Keep talking Smoke! Tell it like it is!
166 agree | 156 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
You rock Stewart!
218 agree | 183 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
loa noyd is my mom and now i feel good that my whole family's famous! im her son jeremiah and i dont really like rusty wallace or kurt busch but newman is my favorite driver!
191 agree | 184 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
limit teams to two per owner. That would allow more teams to compete on an even basis and have more not less people become involved in the racertainment. Pretty soon this will look like Indy. Every car on the grid is of the same make.
165 agree | 190 disagree
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mike steele said:
would love to see the number 3 back on the track thats where the money is jr it would be so good for nascar and the fans
237 agree | 205 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Jr. needs to leave DEI. Teresa has become money/power hungry and lost sight of the dream Sr. had. Perhaps she'll put on her big girl panties and accept she's history when Dale SR.'s empire crumbles around her. Go Jr. Go!! Let her greed hang her and don't look back. RCR was good to your Dad and will help you achieve the championship Teresa doesn't want you to have. BeBo -NC
219 agree | 244 disagree
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shanter said:
i think jr should leave dei, but not drive the number 3 car. there is already so many unrealistic expectation's on his shoulders already. driving the number 3 car would just make it worst. leave dei, get another number BESIDES number 3 and try to do better. his fans arent going anywhere.
250 agree | 217 disagree
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benny taylor said:
dale jr., leave the company now and go drive your dad's no. 3 he won 7 championships, and they have the horsepower and he would be like your second dad and i promise get you back in victory lane...
229 agree | 216 disagree
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