It’s decision time for Stewart, several other drivers
By Bob Pockrass - Associate Editor
Thursday, June 12, 2008
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SCENE ON THE CIRCUIT
It’s June and it’s apparently decision time for some of NASCAR’s marquee drivers and teams. Tony Stewart perhaps still has a decision to make on his future. Jamie McMurray and Juan Pablo Montoya have decided what they’re doing. And Clint Bowyer didn’t make the decision on where he will be in 2009 – team owner Richard Childress did.
Bowyer, poised to make the Chase For The NASCAR Sprint Cup for the second consecutive year, said June 6 that Childress had exercised the option on his contract for 2009. Bowyer said he wants a multiyear deal and does not want to go into next season worrying about his future.
“Nobody wants to shuffle around year to year,” Bowyer said. “You want to know where you’re at and know that your team’s underneath you and everything’s put in place for the long term. Nobody wants to be bouncing back and forth and having to do what you see those guys doing in the silly season year after year.
“That has to be torture, not knowing where you’re going to be and worrying about that all the time and trying to stay focused on the task at hand at the same time. I think that’d be pretty tough.”
Childress said he plans on talking to Bowyer about locking him in beyond next season.
“We exercised our option for one year, but we’re looking for a long-term deal,” Childress said June 8. “We don’t have to get it done tomorrow. We’ve exercised our option and we’ll go from there.”
RCR already has a driver spot open for its fourth car, and Childress said he is still talking to potential drivers.
Among those whose names have been associated with the RCR ride have been Stewart, Martin Truex Jr., Greg Biffle and Ryan Newman.
Biffle doesn’t expect to be in that position much longer as he said his contract negotiations could be completed by the June 15 race at Michigan.
“They’re having just kind of minor discussions to try and resolve a few things, but nothing land-breaking has happened,” Biffle said June 6. “I feel pretty confident.”
Truex, whose contract status isn’t solidified for next season, said he had nothing new to talk about. Newman not only has to worry about negotiating a new contract or leaving Penske Racing, but the team might also lose sponsor Alltel (see story, page 20).
Drivers also might need to wait on Stewart to make his decision. Stewart wasn’t talking about his situation. He has a contract with Joe Gibbs Racing through 2009 but is considering an offer from Haas CNC Racing to be a part-owner and driver. He also has had similar offers from other teams.
Stewart crew chief Greg Zipadelli said that he thinks Stewart has made a decision.
“I honestly think the decision’s made, I just don’t think we all know yet,” Zipadelli said.
Among those mentioned as a possible replacement for Stewart is Juan Pablo Montoya, who is in his second year as a Cup driver for Chip Ganassi Racing.
“People have got to understand that I’ve got a long commitment to Chip [Ganassi],” Montoya said June 6. “This is where I am, and this is where I am going to be for a couple of years.”
The former Formula One driver has had a frustrating season. He started the year with Donnie Wingo as crew chief and then Wingo and Reed Sorenson crew chief Jimmy Elledge swapped positions in mid-April. Ganassi then released Elledge in mid-May, a move that Montoya wasn’t pleased with.
“The main idea when things like that happen and you’re not part of it is to really get everybody on the same page, and for everybody really to understand that it’s not about who is more important or who is the boss,” Montoya said. “It’s about getting the job done, and we’ve got to do whatever it takes to get it done.”
Another driver trying to convince people he is staying with his current team is McMurray, who is 22nd in points. McMurray denied reports he will not return to Roush Fenway Racing next year. McMurray is signed with the team through next season.
“Whenever there’s not anything to talk about, and you tell the truth, you feel like you need to add to the story so you can make people believe you, but there’s not anything to talk about,” McMurray said.
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