Hard Turn
A NASCAR BLOG BY Jeff Owens
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Will Stewart shine or fail?
Jul
11
As soon as Tony Stewart’s press conference was over, NASCAR’s next great debate began.
The question on everyone’s mind now is: Will Tony Stewart succeed as a driver/owner with his new Stewart-Haas Racing?
And more to the point, can he win immediately? Can he step into his new Stewart-Haas Chevrolets next season and be competitive right away?
Or will he fall the way other driver/owners and struggle, perhaps putting a blemish on his otherwise superb career record?
The debate is akin to the one that dominated headlines last year when Dale Earnhardt Jr. announced he was leaving Dale Earnhardt Inc. to join Hendrick Motorsports.
After half a season, it is clear that Junior made a good move, reviving his stagnant career, though not yet to the magnitude that many expected and his fans hoped.
What will Stewart’s fate be?
Already, NASCAR’s numerous scribes and pundits are weighing in, and predictions are decidedly mixed.
Our Rea White, for instance, believes Stewart will be fine next year, winning races and contending the way Stewart normally does.
Our Kenny Bruce, on the other hand, believes Stewart is taking a big risk and will struggle.
I fall somewhere in the middle. I don’t believe Stewart will be nearly as successful as he was at Joe Gibbs Racing. But I don’t believe he will be a miserable – though there is always great potential for Stewart to be miserable – failure, either. I still think he will be a serious threat, winning a few races, but he might not be a championship contender again for a few years.
So the debate rages. That’s what makes huge developments and big stories like this fun – the anticipation and imaginations.
So where do you fall? How do you, the fan, think Stewart will do next year in his new venture?
The question on everyone’s mind now is: Will Tony Stewart succeed as a driver/owner with his new Stewart-Haas Racing?
And more to the point, can he win immediately? Can he step into his new Stewart-Haas Chevrolets next season and be competitive right away?
Or will he fall the way other driver/owners and struggle, perhaps putting a blemish on his otherwise superb career record?
The debate is akin to the one that dominated headlines last year when Dale Earnhardt Jr. announced he was leaving Dale Earnhardt Inc. to join Hendrick Motorsports.
After half a season, it is clear that Junior made a good move, reviving his stagnant career, though not yet to the magnitude that many expected and his fans hoped.
What will Stewart’s fate be?
Already, NASCAR’s numerous scribes and pundits are weighing in, and predictions are decidedly mixed.
Our Rea White, for instance, believes Stewart will be fine next year, winning races and contending the way Stewart normally does.
Our Kenny Bruce, on the other hand, believes Stewart is taking a big risk and will struggle.
I fall somewhere in the middle. I don’t believe Stewart will be nearly as successful as he was at Joe Gibbs Racing. But I don’t believe he will be a miserable – though there is always great potential for Stewart to be miserable – failure, either. I still think he will be a serious threat, winning a few races, but he might not be a championship contender again for a few years.
So the debate rages. That’s what makes huge developments and big stories like this fun – the anticipation and imaginations.
So where do you fall? How do you, the fan, think Stewart will do next year in his new venture?
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Comments
2 responses to "Will Stewart shine or fail? "
Worm Dirt said:
Jul 11, 2008 at 1:30 PMThe ONLY way I see Stewart affecting the outcome of any races next year.....is by REFUSING to get out of the way of the leaders when he's FOUR laps down! I just hope that when it's time for Tony to finally climb another fence IN A FEW YEARS or so that the pressures and stress and frustrations of driver/ownership haven't taken to much of a toll on his ticker making him unable to get more than a few feet off the ground! Good luck Man. YOU'RE GOING TO NEED IT!!!!
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» Confirm Abuse ReportRobert Petrosky said:
Jul 16, 2008 at 8:42 AMI think Tony said one of his aims was to win as a driver/owner. He certainly wants to take this team to the chase. But "Worm Dirt"(named appropately) seems to think he's the expert. Tony is already successful making the decision to do as he has just done. He knows just what he is up against. and he's having fun. He's already a very established driver, nothing to prove there.
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» Confirm Abuse Report