Will Tony Stewart stay at Joe Gibbs Racing? The reigning Winston Cup champion’s contract runs through the end of next season, but team owner Joe Gibbs knows his driver is receiving feelers from other teams wondering if he could get out of his contract to drive for them next season. “I’d say there’s probably a lot of people that have been trying to come after him,” Gibbs said. “One thing about this sport is that if you’re real good, chances are there’s going to be some people knocking at your door.” Gibbs said the team’s management is “kind of working on” a contract extension with Stewart and would prefer to re-sign him to a long-term extension. Gibbs recently re-signed teammate Bobby Labonte to an extension, and Stewart’s crew chief, Greg Zipadelli, has told Stewart that Gibbs wants to talk to him about an extension. Gibbs seems confident that Stewart will want to stay put. “I know that I feel real good about our relationship,” Gibbs says. “I think we speak the same language. I think what Tony’s interested in, first and foremost, is where he can win the most races. I feel pretty good about that.”( USA Today ) AND Tony Stewart’s future is a hot issue in the Winston Cup garage, but Cary Agajanian, his business manager, yesterday declined to comment on widespread reports that Target has targeted the NASCAR champion with plans to buy out the final year of his contract with Joe Gibbs and move him to Chip Ganassi’s Dodge team, replacing Casey Mears. Doug Duchardt, the head of GM racing, said he expects Stewart to remain in the Chevy camp. “There is probably interest in Tony, but certainly we want to keep Tony and Joe Gibbs Racing in Chevrolets for a long time, so we’re working that through with Joe.” The prospect for Stewart in a Ganassi ride? “I’d be surprised if that’s the case,” Duchardt said.( Winston Salem Journal )(7-14-2003) MORE UPDATES: Amid rampant speculation that Tony Stewart might consider testing NASCAR’s open market or even returning to the Indy Racing League, the reigning Winston Cup champion and team owner Joe Gibbs said this weekend they are in the process of negotiating a contract extension. Gibbs recently re-signed his other driver, 2000 Winston Cup champion Bobby Labonte. Stewart’s contract expires at the end of next season, which will be his fifth with Joe Gibbs Racing. Stewart said the only holdup is finding time for him and Gibbs to sit down and talk. “Joe’s been gone and I’ve been gone, but I know he re-signed Bobby already and Greg (crew chief Zipadelli) talked to me about Joe wanting to sign me soon,” Stewart said. “So I’m sure it will happen pretty soon.” Sponsor Home Depot has agreed to up the ante knowing Stewart’s asking price is bound to increase. Gibbs said he’s not surprised that rumors have surfaced about other owners being interested in Stewart, who has finished in the top 10 of the standings in all four of his Winston Cup seasons and has won 16 races. “There’s probably a lot of people that have been trying to come after him,” Gibbs said. “One thing about this sport is that if you’re real good, chances are there’s going to be some people knocking at your door.” But Gibbs said he’s confident of keeping the 32-year-old driver. “We’re hard at work for the future trying to get something done,” the former NFL champion coach said. “We like long-term deals, and that’s what we’re kind of working on.”( Indianapolis Star ) HOWEVER the Winston Salem Journal continues to report….Tony Stewart will hold a press conference today at which he may discuss rumors of a possible contract buyout by Target in a deal that would move him to Chip Ganassi’s Dodge team. Those reports come amid Stewart’s contract renegotiations with Joe Gibbs.( Winston Salem Journal )(7-15-2003) UPDATE 3: been informed that Stewart is NOT holding a press conference today and is simply the third guest on the Winston Teleconference, following Ricky Craven and Call Wells. The #20 team and Stewart has had numerous interview requests from New England media as they prepare for the New England 300, and they thought that making Tony available via the Winston Teleconference would be the best way to take care of those interview requests. Mr. Mulhern’s report in the Winston-Salem (N.C.) Journal is inaccurate.(Team Sources), see my #20 Team News and Links page for the past rumors over the last few days.(7-15-2003)
