Tony Stewart (Right) driver of the #14 Office Depot/Old Spice Chevrolet speaks with his crew chief Darian Grubb (Left). (Photo: LAT Photographic)

What the organization was capable of was putting two drivers in the Chase when some people thought they wouldn’t put any.

“I’m ecstatic about that,” Stewart said. “We didn’t really set an expectation of this is where we think we should be during the year. It was more of a wait-and-see attitude, take it a week at a time.”

And now that 2009 is over, Stewart said he wants all of the people who helped build the organization to take some time off, including himself, Executive Vice President Brett Frood, competition director Bobby Hutchens and crew chiefs Darian Grubb and Tony Gibson.

“In all reality, this past season and 2008, it really was one long season because I didn’t have an offseason last year,” Stewart said. “The hardest part for me was all the work that went through the winter and getting ready for Daytona. … They all know we need to take some time this winter because of how hard we all worked last year.

“We’re not doing that to be lazy, to be complacent, but we know that’s part of ensuring the success of the organization. People get burned out. We’re all taking our little bit of time, catching our breath. That’s mandatory. I’ve got plans to be gone, and that’s been embraced by those guys. That tells me we’re in good shape.”

Having the organization in good shape will allow Stewart to relax some during the offseason, though the team is unlikely to be far from his thoughts.

“You’re always conscious at the end of the day [that] you’re responsible for whatever happens, good, bad or indifferent,” Stewart said.

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