| It sounded like a recipe for disaster. Tony Stewart | | | | the best. Given the temper of Tony Stewart, it all |
| was the iconic driver for Joe Gibbs Racing. Driving the | | | | sounded like a nightmarish 2009 season. |
| number 20 Home Depot car, he had won two | | | | Tony Stewart outsmarted us all. The first thing he |
| championships for the team. He was both a brilliant | | | | did right was to bat his eyes at Rick Hendrick. The |
| driver and a combustible sort. He was as likely to win | | | | Hendrick Team is the dominant team in NASCAR. It |
| a race as take a swing at someone. Put another | | | | also drives Chevrolets, the car Stewart preferred |
| way, he was old school NASCAR. | | | | over Toyota which Joe Gibbs Racing had switched |
| Then came the shocking announcement. Tony | | | | to. Stewart signed an affiliation agreement with the |
| Stewart was leaving Joe Gibbs Racing. He was | | | | Hendrick Team and then signed away some key |
| leaving the big contract. He was leaving the massive | | | | players as well. This made the transition to the |
| resources. He was leaving the great crew chief. He | | | | Hendrick equipment fairly seamless. Throw in the |
| was leaving the wins and rewards. Many thought he | | | | signing of Ryan Newman and the team had the |
| was leaving his sanity! Why? It was all about where | | | | makings of being something solid. |
| he was going. | | | | Solid? Try tremendous. Tony Stewart sits in third in |
| Tony Stewart was leaving Joe Gibbs Racing to | | | | the points after the Southern 500. Ryan Newman is |
| become a part owner in his own team. The team | | | | in the tenth position. Yes, both teams are in the |
| would be known as Stewart Haas. The then | | | | chase as I write this and the both look strong. |
| constructed Haas team was downright horrible and | | | | Stewart has yet to win, but it is only a matter of |
| many thought Stewart had lost his mind. After all, | | | | time. Overall, it has been a fairy tale beginning for the |
| we'd seen this tried before with Ricky Rudd. Michael | | | | team. Can it last? With close ties to the Hendrick |
| Waltrip and many others. It rarely worked out for | | | | Team, it looks like it may very well. |