Bowyer and Biffle re-up, plus musings on Mears, Stewart
Clint Bowyer and Greg Biffle, both in the Top 12, have signed deals to remain with their respective teams — Bowyer with Richard Childress Racing and Biffie with Roush Fenway.
Bully for both of ‘em, and bully for doin’ it mostly without fanfare.
Gotta feel bad for Casey Mears, tho. Mears has gassed by Hendrick Motorsports, which has told him he won’t be back after this season. Mears seems like an affable chap, but other than the Sodie 600 last year, he hasn’t had much success for Hendrick. Still Mears could be an attractive hire for RCR’s fourth car next year, or maybe a spot at Dale Earnhardt Inc.
But speculation about Mears is small potatoes compared to what’s gonna happen with Tony Stewart. The outspoken two-time champ (the Brett Hull of NASCAR) actually has another year remaining on his contract but started negotiating before the Talledega race by telling Joe Gibbs Racing about an offer from Haas CNC Racing that reportedly included Stewart being a part-owner.
I can’t imagine Gibbs and son J.D. Gibbs being too happy about having that development held over their heads a year and a half before Stewart actually becomes a free agent. Drivers running around shopping themselves and talking deals with other teams while under contract is one of the big weaknesses in NASCAR. The Earnhardt Jr./Kyle Busch saga of last season got to be a bit much, and we might be in for a year-and-a-half of Stewart/Gibbs posturing/negotiating.
There are two prime rides open so far for next season — Mears’ spot at Hendrick (already rumored to being kept warm for DEI’s Mark Martin — who “retired” with Rusty Wallace three years ago), and the fourth car being added to the Childress Racing camp.
I doubt Stewart would get either one of those spots, regardless of how much campaigning he does to get out of his deal early. And really, unless Haas gets a massive infusion of cash from a venture capitalist ala Petty Enterprises (let’s see, Haas, Petty … naa, ain’t gonna happen), Haas CNC is a third-tier operation, struggling from week to week just to stay in the top 35 it seems.
So, Gibbs has the upperhand in negotiations with Stewart, particularly with hotshot Joey Lagano in the farm system. Young Lagano, who will race at Gateway International Raceway next month, already has a Nationwide victory to his credit, and he could use the next year and a half to gain experience and then slide right into Stewart’s seat after next season.
Or so Gibbs would like Stewart to think. Ideally, I imagine, Gibbs would like to add a fourth car and have a powerhouse team of Stewart, Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin and Lagano. But if Stewart wants to play the leverage game with the Haas CNC offer, well, then Gibbs can play it right back with Lagano waiting in the wings.
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I think his antics are just typical “Tony”. Another reason I’m an “anyone but Stewart” fan.
Actually, Stewart has been loyal to Gibbs Racing throughout his career. Yes, Stewart is outspoken, I like that about him, but it’s usually about on-track stuff as opposed to owner/contract stuff. Until the Haas story broke, I don’t recall hearing a peep out of Stewart vis-a-vis him maybe going elsewhere or exploring options, etc. He always seemed to understand who signed his checks.
As to what happened to prompt his courtship with Haas? I can only speculate, but if you follow a time line, two things have happened at Gibbs since Stewart’s last title: Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch. Could their emergence be driving Stewart to explore his options?
If Stewart does bolt from Gibbs, whether this year or next, it’ll be interesting to see whether Home Depot goes with the driver or sticks with the owner.
The Home Depot guy is Arthur Blank, who also owns the Falcons in the NFL. Would Blank stick with the NFL pedigree and successful race team in Gibbs, or take his chances with Stewart owning his own team or part of Haas CNC? Where would Home Depot have a better chance of being in Victory Lane: Gibbs? Or a Stewart start-up/Haas?
I limited Stewart’s choices to those two options primarily because those are the only options at the moment for the 2010 season, though obviously much can change between now and then. Still, the big shooters — Hendrick, Roush Fenway, and RCR — should have their rosters full by then. Other than that, you’re talking the Dodge boys — Penske, Gillett Evernham or Petty — and maybe Yates with the Ford gang. All would be a step up from Haas, but would Blank pick any of those teams over Gibbs?