Tony Stewart Set to Leave Joe Gibbs Racing

[BDBohnzie]

Originally Posted by jsarno

I wonder if this will hurt Stewart as a top 10 driver? He's almost always in the top 10 (I know he's 12th right now), but will going to an inferior racing team help him as a driver or hurt him? My thought is hurt him, but I also thought going to toyota for JGR was a death sentence...clearly I was wrong there.

It might at first, but I think Stewart will have plenty of control over hiring personnel for his team, and in that, he's only going to surround himself with guys who will help him succeed. He's gone as far to thank JGR for showing him how to build a proper race team, and has used what he's learned towards his USAC and World of Outlaws teams. Add the fact that he's a top notch driver, and the only thing in his way he how he and his team perform week in and week out.

The other rumor is that he'll bring Ryan Newman into the fold, and while he's not Jeff Gordon, Newman is a good driver.

The only downfall to this whole thing is money. If somehow Tony isn't able to keep sponsors for the racing team, the money will dry up and he'll be up shit's creek sans paddle. Honestly, I don't think that'll be a problem.