Busch says he wishes Stewart was staying as his teammate
By SceneDaily Staff
Saturday, July 12, 2008
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Rusty Jarrett / Getty Images for NASCAR
Tony Stewart (left) talks with Kyle Busch earlier this season.
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JOLIET, Ill. – Tony Stewart’s announcement that he is leaving Joe Gibbs Racing to become an owner/driver next season for the team that will be known as Stewart-Haas Racing might have come as pleasant news to some of his competitors.
Not that anyone could blame them.
After all, Stewart has been pretty stout in his 10 seasons at JRG, winning 32 races and two NASCAR Cup titles.
Some question if Stewart will enjoy a similar level of success with his new team, which hasn’t produced a winner while competing as Haas CNC Racing since joining the Cup ranks in 2003 and has struggled at times just to make races.
The possibility of Stewart in less-competitive equipment would, in theory, give other drivers more opportunities to win. Stewart’s JRG teammate Kyle Busch is at least one driver who isn’t eager for Stewart to jump ship, however.
“Basically, he’s been a great friend and a great teammate and will of course stay a great friend,” Busch said at Chicagoland Speedway, site of tonight’s LifeLock.com 400. “I’ve learned a lot from him just in this year and the little bit that we’ve worked together. I wish he wasn’t leaving. It’s a lot easier to race with him on my side than against him. I know that from past experiences.”
Busch, who became Stewart’s teammate upon moving from Hendrick Motorsports to JRG this season, still expects Stewart to go through some growing pains as he adjusts to the role of owner and driver with an organization he hopes to bring to prominence.
“As far as his car ownership endeavors, I wish him the best with it,” Busch said. “I know he’ll probably struggle and be frustrated for the first little bit of it, but hopefully he can get his team or teams up to par with the rest of the competition that’s going to be out there and get it to where he feels it needs to be whether that’s going to take more resources and development stuff from Hendrick Motorsports or what exactly."
Haas CNC gets technical support and engines from Hendrick.
"I have a feeling he’s already talked to Rick [Hendrick] quite a bit," Busch said of Stewart. "I’m sure it won’t be too bad.”
As for Stewart's yet-to-be named successor in the No. 20 JGR car, Busch claims he doesn’t have a preference. Some speculate that the team will accelerate its plans for Joey Logano and move the highly-touted 18-year-old up from the organization’s Nationwide Series program sooner than originally planned.
Such a decision would suddenly make the 23-year-old Busch no longer the youngest driver in the Gibbs stable. And that would be OK with him.
“It wouldn’t bother me none,” Busch said. “[Teammate] Denny [Hamlin] and I, we’ve got a great relationship … whether or not it’s Joey. That’d be pretty cool [though]. Obviously he’d be a young guy there and being able to have a young guy there and being able to have the repertoire that the No. 20 car and [crew chief] Greg Zipadelli and all those guys would be a good step for him.
“Whether or not that comes true we’re yet to find out. For anybody else to step in that car would be good. Denny and I, hopefully we can lead the train of Joe Gibbs Racing drivers now.”
- Mentioned Drivers:
- Kyle Busch
Comments
4 responses to "Busch says he wishes Stewart was staying as his teammate"
anonymous said:
Jul 12, 2008 at 10:25 AMYou can be the bad boy lead dog now KB.
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» Confirm Abuse Report4da88 said:
Jul 12, 2008 at 9:01 PMWhat ever will Wild Thingy do with Logano there to show him up? It will truly be the "Brat Pack". I can hardly wait, BLECH!
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» Confirm Abuse ReportPearl Roll said:
Jul 12, 2008 at 10:52 PMyea that's a WINNING brat pack and i love it- GO KB!!!!! KEEP ON KEEPIN ON!!
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» Confirm Abuse Reportjerry swiatek said:
Jul 15, 2008 at 9:12 AMLagano showing up KB??? man is Lagano running and winning somewhere that I don't know about??
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