Tony Stewart enjoying new role at Stewart-Haas Racing
KANNAPOLIS, N.C. - Stewart-Haas Racing co-owner Tony Stewart says he’s enjoying his new role as NASCAR Sprint Cup team owner/driver.
The two-time Cup champion was singing the praises of teammate Ryan Newman, crew chief Darian Grubb and Executive Vice President Brett Frood during the the Sprint Media Tour presented by Lowe's Motor Speedway.
"I've loved it so far," Stewart said Wednesday. "I knew when we started this there was going to be so many things I didn't know about. I've told every one of these guys that I don't know all there is to be about a car owner, but I do know how to go get the right people to do the right jobs, and that takes the pressure off me."
As a new co-owner, one decision Stewart stands behind is the hiring of 2008 Daytona 500 winner Newman, who had spent his entire Cup career with Penske Racing.
"When we sat and talked to Ryan about this, I left the meeting saying, 'This is the guy we need to get. We've got to get him,' and the whole process of this has reinforced that," Stewart said.
Stewart says he was also pleased with last week's team test session at Florida's New Smyrna Speedway.
"I think the last piece of that equation was when we got to run together at New Smyrna," Stewart said. "We got to talk to each other about the cars, and it was like we worked together before, even though we never had."
Stewart also put a major emphasis on the impact that Frood has made on the organization in just a short time.
"Brett has been a very big part of getting this up and going and it's great to have a person like that looking out for your best interest and watching everything for you business-wise," Stewart said in reference to Frood, who is a graduate of Harvard Business School. "I don't have the book knowledge or degree knowledge, but I get the practical knowledge from learning from people that are doing it.”
