I’ve been sitting here for almost two hours debating on what to say about the situation that finally was leaked and somewhat announced today.

Yes, that announcement.

Tony Stewart will not be returning to Joe Gibbs Racing in 2009.

Tony Stewart is the reason I got back into NASCAR and is my favorite driver. I know people who want to persue a career in NASCAR or Sports Journalism shouldn’t have a favorite driver, but he’s mine.

I’m going to wait until tomorrow to write out my thoughts after seeing the press conference. I’m in class when it airs so I’m recording it and will watch it when I get home. I will then review it and write what I’m feeling as I’m watching it.  I’ve gotten a lot of e-mails today about the topic and I’m just going to wait and see Tony’s face when announcing it. That’s when I’ll know it’s the right thing to do or what I should say.

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - JULY 05: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 Interstate Batteries Toyota celebrates after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway on July 5, 2008 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Kyle Busch won his sixth race of the season tonight at Daytona International Speedway’s Coke Zero 400. It was his first career win in the premiere NASCAR series at Daytona after coming in second to Jamie McMurray in 2007 and Tony Stewart in 2006.

Busch’s teammate, Stewart, who was the favorite coming into the race, removed himself from the #20 Home Depot Toyota just after Lap 72 after being sick all weekend.  Before the race started, Stewart recieved IV’s in the Infield Care Center.

Former Joe Gibbs Racing teammate J.J. Yeley was already suited up and climbed into the car.

Stewart sat behind his pitbox for a short time, drinking fluids before being taken back to the Infield Care Center and was treated for the remaineder of the race for “flu-like symptoms.”

Photo of Tony Stewart (AP Photo/Terry Renna)

SPARTA, KY - JUNE 14: Joey Logano spins his tires after winning the Game Stop Toyota in the NASCAR Nationwide Series Meijer 300 presented by Oreo at Kentucky Speedway on June 14, 2008 in Sparta, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Joey Logano made history tonight by becoming the youngest driver to ever win a race in NASCAR’s top three premiere series.

And he kicked some major tail by doing so. The 18-year-old driver of the #20 Game Stop Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing won his first Nationwide Series race in only his third start.

He also won his second Coors Light Pole in his third start today.

Keep your eyes open people. This kid is going to be around for a long time.

Second photo credit: (AP Photo/Ed Reinke)

According to an ESPN/AP article, which I saw on Jayski, Greg Zipadelli, crew chief for the #20 Home Depot Toyota, thinks driver Tony Stewart knows what his future holds.

“I honestly think the decision’s made, I just don’t think we all know yet.”

Zipadelli and Stewart have the current longest driver/crew chief relationship in the garage area, having been together all of their ten years in the premiere NASCAR series.

Swear to god, if it doesn’t include Joe Gibbs Racing or at least the Home Depot, I may possibly give birth to a small farm animal. Baaaaaah!

Baaaaaah! Meow! Baaaaah!

If this were to happen… I think I would poke my eyes out with a fork or steel rod.

#42-Juan Pablo Montoya requested a face-to-face meeting with his boss and got it the day before the Indianapolis 500, when owner Chip Ganassi flew to North Carolina to talk with his emotional driver. The early morning meeting Saturday let Montoya express his frustrations over the race team’s direction, including the firing of crew chief Jimmy Elledge, a move Montoya vehemently opposed. “I told him everything I was thinking and how it was,” said Montoya, who finished 30th. “The hope of the meeting is that everything that has happened turns into results. I need to run better. That’s what will calm me down.” Meanwhile, there is speculation that Joe Gibbs Racing may make a run at Montoya to fill the seat Tony Stewart is expected to leave at the end of the season. (Per Jayski via Chicago Tribune)

Karah-Leigh
karah@trackbunnyfilms.com

I remember hearing about Joey Logano the first time in 2004 and in 2005 when I went to Joe Gibbs Racing fro the first time, Logano was there, sitting out front with Aric Amirola signing autographs for fans. Everybody talked about how this kid was the next Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart, but I had never seen him race.

When he started racing in the Hooter’s Pro Cup Series in the Southern Division, he won at South Georgia Motorsports Park where I go frequently and I was unable to attend it. Why? I forget now, but I know that I was devastated when I found out that he had actually won it.

I saw Logano again the next fall at Joe Gibbs Racing, still signing autographs for fans who were waiting around in long lines for Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin. People walked right by him, not really noticing him just like they do a lot of up and coming drivers when the “star” is nearby. (more…)

After being in NASCAR ten years, Tony Stewart finally tamed the “lady in black” Friday night with his win in the Nationwide Series’ Diamond Hill Plywood 200!

To say the least, Stewart was thrilled.

“At the start of this year, there were still four tracks I haven’t won at and it was California, Las Vegas, Talladega and here (Darlington) and thanks to Dave and the guys on this 20 car on the Nationwide side, we’ve conquered three and should have won the fourth one, but not to be greedy, get four this year and three at the tracks that I haven’t won at, it’s, man with the rich heritage and history at Darlington, to win here and be the first guy to win after they resurfaced here, it’s a feeling that’s hard to describe. It’s just cool to win at Darlington.

It’s just fun, this series is so deep in history in general and this is one of those tracks that it’s history goes as deep as NASCAR and to finally win here, it’s just a huge honor to me.

Crew Chief Dave Rogers also had something good to say about Tony.

I saw Tony Stewart drive probably one of the smartest races I’ve seen here at Darlington.

(more…)

Thanks to Rich who sent me this information:

For those who need a live racing fix this fall and winter you can see some possible stars of tomorrow at Cricket Arena in Charlotte. It’s called indoor Arena Racing. These are basically go carts with car bodies on a 1/10 mile track that acts like Bristol. Racers range in age from 14 to 50 somethings. Last years champion was 14 at the time. Tony stewart has a car that he sponsors and last year was driven by his Uncle Del. Chrissy Wallace also participated last season. The program is somehow affiliated with JGR (Joe Gibbs Racing) and is a very clean family type event. They race on Saturdays, some Fridays and is not expensive ($10 G/A $12 Resv) I don’t know kid pricing but I know that it is reduced. They do have an upcoming special of 4 tickets and 4 hotdogs for $40. There are 15 events scheduled for Charlotte and last Sat was #2 so you can see that this will get you through to Daytona. If you live or plan to be in Charlotte I highly recommend this fast paced entertainmant. Speeds are in the 40mph range which may not sound fast but there are frequent roll-overs, side by side and ‘bumping’ and some body slamming. Racing starts at 7pm and typically is over before 10 so it’s not a late nite for the little ones (should you have any).

I saw them last year in the inaugural race and it was awesome. As you can see with the picture above, Tony Stewart and JJ Yeley are helping Denny Hamlin with his car. Also there was JD Gibbs, Kyle Busch, and watching from the sidelines Kevin Harvick, Michael Waltrip, and Tony Eury, Jr.  To see more pics, click here.