Joe Gibbs Racing is going to do all they can to keep Tony Stewart in the No. 20 Toyota beyond 2009. (Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images Photo) ยป More Photos
Tony Stewart’s contract with Joe Gibbs Racing extends through 2009 and the team is one of several in negotiations with Stewart for 2010 and beyond, and what likely will be Stewart’s final contract as a NASCAR driver.
SI.com reported yesterday that Stewart is talking with Haas CNC Racing about becoming a partial owner of that team as well as a driver after Stewart’s deal with JGR expires at the end of 2009.
Stewart’s spokesman Mike Arning said Thursday morning that JGR intends to try and sweeten Stewart’s deal for 2009 and then sign him to a long-term contract that would allow him to finish his career with the only NASCAR Sprint Cup team he has driven for.
Haas CNC has approached Stewart, Arning confirmed, and he said that in the wake of the publicity about the Haas offer, he expected several other NASCAR car owners will try and lure away Stewart, a two-time NASCAR Spring Cup champion.
But Arning reaffirmed that Stewart is under contract and will remain under contract with Gibbs for the rest of this year and all of next year. And he said Gibbs will do everything within its power to extend Stewart’s contract until retirement.
Stewart is expected to speak about his situation this afternoon from Talladega Superspeedway, where NASCAR Nationwide Series practice is scheduled.
Stay tuned to SPEEDtv.com for further developments on this story as they happen.
Tom Jensen is the Senior NASCAR Editor for SPEEDtv.com, the former Executive Editor of NASCAR Scene and a contributing Editor for TruckSeries.com. He is the author of “Cheating: The Bad Things Good NASCAR Nextel Cup Racers Do In Pursuit of SPEED,” and has appeared on numerous television and radio shows to discuss NASCAR racing. Jensen is the President of the National Motorsports Press Association. The Answer Man is back at SPEEDtv.com. Tom Jensen answers your questions during every race week and looks forward to hearing from you - please e-mail it to
SPEED will televise the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race XXIV and the NASCAR Sprint Showdown live on May 17, as well as provide more than 90 hours of support programming prior to the event. Stay tuned to SPEEDtv.com for frequent updates on the history of the event and all the details about this year’s action.
