Tony Stewart not optimistic about a third SHR team in 2011
With sponsorship holes left to fill in 2011 for both himself and Ryan Newman, Stewart-Haas Racing owner-driver Tony Stewart says there is no chance of his organization adding a third team next season. // Chuck Yadmark, NASCAR Illustrated
Tony Stewart says he has no plans to start a third team at Stewart-Haas Racing as his organization is still looking for sponsorship to fill out the season for both him and teammate Ryan Newman next year.
Stewart is losing Old Spice as a 14-race primary sponsor next season, and Newman does not have a full season worth of sponsorship as U.S. Army and Tornados don’t fill the entire schedule.
Stewart-Haas Racing has been mentioned as a possible landing point for Kasey Kahne next season as Hendrick Motorsports must find him a team to drive for with Mark Martin scheduled to be in the No. 5 car through 2011 before Kahne takes over that ride in 2012.
“I would say there’s probably a zero percent chance we’ll expand to a third team for next year,” Stewart said during a NASCAR teleconference Tuesday. “We’re still trying to fill the void when Old Spice changes this year. We’re talking to a lot of great people. There’s a lot of good opportunities out there.
“It’s just a matter of finding a package that works for somebody to fill our spot. There’s still races we’re trying to take care of on Ryan’s car. The hard part about it is, it just takes funding. We could be up to a four-car team very quickly. But it takes the funding to get it done.”
Stewart won four times and made the Chase in his first year as co-owner of Stewart-Haas Racing, while Newman missed the cut and went winless. Newman has won this year and sits 15th in the standings. Stewart has not won but is ninth in points.
