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7. Tony Stewart 5650
8. Jeff Gordon 5633
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Mike Hembree: Zipadelli eyes a new road

By Mike Hembree - Associate Editor

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Article Rating: 4.3
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COMMENTARY

We’re not even close to the end of this season – not even close to the Chase, really – and already many of the questions bouncing around the garage area concern Tony Stewart and 2009.

  • How will Stewart perform in an absolutely new environment?
  • How will he handle being a team owner?
  • How quickly can he elevate a mediocre team?
  • How many times a week will he shave?
All key questions, to be sure. I have one that’s more fun, though: How will Greg Zipadelli do next season?

For their entire Cup careers, all Stewart and Zipadelli have known is each other. They have been the sport’s enduring driver-crew chief combination since 1999. Neither has run a race without the other.

Clearly, it has worked. They own two Cup championships (2002 and 2005) together, and they have been contenders for race victories virtually every week.

Now Stewart wants to try something different, and he can’t be blamed for taking advantage of what appears to be a great offer to expand his impact on the sport. His potential as a winning driver may drop, at least in the short term, but, for the long run, having an ownership stake in a team is a win-win for him.

He leaves behind one of the best teams – and one of the best crew chiefs – in the history of NASCAR. Zipadelli has been a master of strategy, a molder of strong team relationships and a superb babysitter for Stewart. All are difficult roles, in particular the last.

Stewart’s volatile personality – one he either can’t or chooses not to keep in control – has been a double-edged sword for Joe Gibbs Racing. His fire has kept him near the top of the sport, but it also has threatened to burn down the house. It has led to fines, to friction with his long-time sponsor, to confrontations with the media and fans and to dangerous situations on and off the track.

On far too many occasions, Zipadelli has had to be not only crew chief but also lawyer and policeman. Stewart has often stormed off refusing to explain himself for one reason or another, and Zipadelli has stepped into the void, graciously trying to do Stewart’s work for him. This happened so many times one season, however, that Zipadelli eventually tired of the drama and announced that he wouldn’t be serving as Stewart’s press secretary again.

Now, although there certainly will be negatives associated with Stewart and Zipadelli moving in different directions, there is a bright light for Zipadelli in that he will get a fresh start with a driver who isn’t likely to carry the baggage of excess carted around by Stewart.

With that burden lifted, Zipadelli could do some wondrous things. Although he’ll miss Stewart in most ways, it seems likely that he’s looking forward to racing on a clean road with no speed bumps.

Average Rating: 4.3

Comments

7 responses to "Mike Hembree: Zipadelli eyes a new road"
  1. 1
    FRANK LAVACCA said:
    Jul 24, 2008 at 3:08 AM

    these two guys are best friends and i don't think zipp is happy to tony leave no matter what.im sure he feels a gibbs job is better than trying to start up a new cup team,now thats pressure.

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  2. 2
    bob holcomb said:
    Jul 24, 2008 at 6:35 AM

    I always have to chuckle when journalists dump on Tony Stewart. The truth is you don't like him because he doesn't respect you. Tony Stewart is one of the best things to come along for NASCAR. Zipadelli would be nowhere without him. Since they are parting, they obviously aren't as close as people make out. I wouldn't be surprised to see Zipadelli move out of the pitbox.

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  3. 3
    said:
    Jul 25, 2008 at 8:17 AM

    I AM VERY SORRY TO SEE TONY LEAVE GIBBS BUT MAYBE AT HIS AGE THIS IS WHAT HE NEEDS. HE OWNS OTHER TRACKS AND TEAMS IN OTHER SERIES AND I'M SURE HE REALLY GAVE THIS A LOT OF THOUGHT. I REALLY AM SURPRISED ZIPPY ISN'T GOING WITH TONY, ALTHOUGH WE DON'T KNOW IF TONY EVEN WANTED HIM TO. MAYBE HE JUST WANTS A NEW START. ANOTHER THING ZIPPY KNOWS THAT HE HAS A LIFE TIME JOB WITH A GOOD OWNER SO MAYBE IN THE LONG RUN THINGS WILL WORK OUT GOOD FOR BOTH OF THEM. I HOPE SO.

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  4. 4
    Frank Holland said:
    Jul 25, 2008 at 4:40 PM

    While Tony and Zippy may be best friends, I still think Zippy's role as babysitter and media flunky has got to wear thin. Whenever Tony decides to skip an after-race interview, especially after some catastrophic episode in the race, there stands Zippy, like a sacrificial lamb. When Tony has his "moments" (temper tantrums is a term reserved for people who ARE 10 as opposed to ACT like they're 10), there's Zippy, charged with watching over and making sure he doesn't physically do anything to anyone. Friend or no friend, that's one hell of a burden. And after 10 years, it's had to have gotten old. I don't deal with this on a regular basis, but even all the back and forth in the media has gotten old for me. Zippy has a wife and kids now. I think he's looking forward to being more of a husband/father than a babysitter. I'm betting the friendship will be better once the babysitter aspect is gone.

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  5. 5
    Chuck Benton said:
    Jul 26, 2008 at 7:17 AM

    Looks like journalists are more often right than wrong about Stewart. A day after this story, he got into yet another altercation, this time with a USAC official. And this happened the night before his big sponsor announcement. He just can't resist trouble. Kinda like the bullies you knew in elementary school.

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  6. 6
    Jayne Deere said:
    Jul 27, 2008 at 8:26 PM

    One of the conditions of Gibbs letting Tony out of his contract a year early was that he would not take any of the personnel of JGR with him. It wasn't a matter of choice for Tony and Zippy to part ways. I'm sure they will remain friends.

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  7. 7
    Ashley said:
    Jul 29, 2008 at 4:47 AM

    I bet ZIPPY is PRIVATELY dancing with glee over Tony's move. It was very telling that Greg did not move with Tony. I'm sure they'll still be friends, blah, blah, blah... But I cannot believe a crew chief of Zip's supreme talent and skill wouldn't relish the chance to call ALL the shots (without Tony's volatility or interference) for the next Nascar hotshot. Can you say Joey Logano?

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