Two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Tony Stewart has begun discussion with Joe Gibbs Racing officials about his future with the company, ESPN.com has learned. And that future, sources say, is questionable.
Multiple sources close to the situation who spoke on condition of anonymity said Stewart told Gibbs officials that he'd like to be released from the final year of his current driving contract, which expires at the conclusion of the 2009 season. Stewart
"He definitely has some options," JGR president J.D. Gibbs said. "To me it's no different than any of the the options he's had before. The reality is he's racing here through 2009. There's no ifs, ands or buts about that one. Our stance is he's racing for us through 2009." Stewart's publicist, Mike Arning, said "Tony's contract is through the 2009 season. When that is up he'll have a lot of options for 2010 and beyond. But in terms of what he's going to do, or might do, for now and in between, as far as JGR is concerned he's their driver for 2009." Sources said Stewart is intrigued by the thought of team ownership. One potential scenario mentioned was a partnership with Haas/CNC Racing, under which Stewart would own as much as a 50 percent stake in the race team that currently fields the Nos. 66 and 70 Chevrolets. Under that scenario he would drive one of those two machines. Haas GM Joe Custer said he has spoken with several people about the future status of his team, including Stewart's group. He was adamant that his team has reached no deal with Stewart, but would "by all means be interested in discussing a partnership with a driver of his caliber." Such a move would reunite Stewart with Chevrolet, which sources said was of the utmost importance to the driver, given that he's driven for General Motors for most of his career, and that GM sponsors Stewart's open wheel sprint car program. Gibbs switched to Toyotas from Chevrolets in 2008. Haas/CNC Racing currently fields cars built and powered by Hendrick Motorsports, the organization that has won four Cup championships in the past 10 years, including the past two....

I saw this one coming like a freight train when it was announced Gibbs was going to Toyota. I would not be surprised if he was let out of the contract for 2009. What I DON'T see him doing is driving in Nextel Cup. Has he EVER really had fun in Cup??? Maybe in the beginning, but not the last several years. It's allowed him to buy Eldora and interest in other facilities and to field his own dirt teams. I think he's out of Cup and back to USAC and running the Big E.

I would almost believe a deal with Ganassi before Haas as Chrysler Chairman Bob Nardelli(Sp) was the Ceo of Home Depot. Then again his relationship w/MoPar may not be great as a whole. I would also believe that he would want to be part of DEI if the deal could be swung where he had a large say in operations.

Tony has always had the ability to make the cars and teams around him better, but no matter what, Childress and Hendrick are Chevy's main teams. DEI can't be to far behind. I know that Haas is sort of a Quazi Hendrick team, but it isn't the same.

That is why Gibbs had to go to Toyota for reasons other than money. They are Toyota's #1 team and at Chevy they would of always been floating around the 3 spot.

In all fairness to Tony, it's clear that Bush is the young gun and looking for the #1 spot. To this point he has done nothing but prove that he his deserving of it. Tony is great mid season on, so he may win a half dozen races before it's over.

He is still in his prime and could win another 2-3 championships. I have to believe that adding a team to the empire he already has would be a large task. Then again he may view it as freeedom and from the outside looking in, that seems vey important to him.

To me it's pretty obvious he wants to check things out. Why has he not signed yet if he wants to stay with JGR? I think Toyota plays a part, but I also think he's probably ready for something new. He's done it all with that team.

Tony keeps saying whenever he is at a dirt race that he is with "his people." Dirt is where he loves to be and if he thinks he has salted enough money away I believe he would just love to tell the France Circus to take their ever changing rules and shove it.

is that what the big announcement is gonna be a ELDORA.....lol:kookoo

This is the same stuff that seems to happen every time he nears the end of his contract. A lot of it is posturing to increase his value at contract renewal time.

Maybe this time there is some substance to it. I guess we'll have to wait and see. On the other hand, maybe he is fed up with being Kyle Busch's team mate. And him and Denny Hamlin don't see eye to eye either.

tired of getting beat by busch after being the best driver in the gibbs stable

In my humble opinion, I think Tony Stewart should lose some weight and drive for Tony George at Vision racing in the IRL, and here's why. Tony won the IRL title driving for John Menard with Larry Curry as team manager right? Stay with me here.....
Tony left Menard for Gibbs. I believe there was some sort of lawsuit filed by Menard due to some Menard/Home depot legal contractual stuff. Larry Curry subsequently went to prison for selling Menard owned IRL equipment and keeping the money. An auction of Curry owned personal possessions (championship rings, etc...) was held to offset money owed Menard. Stewart purchased many of these items and returned them to his friend Curry. With me so far?
Fast forward to the present day. Curry is out of prison and is managing George's IRL team. And who signs as major sponsor this season of the Vision racing team/Larry Curry managed/Ed Carpenter driven IRL car? Menards!
So I believe Tony Stewart is the only missing piece of the puzzle to bring the team full circle 10-11 years later. It makes perfect sense!
(Tony should probably not bring Home Depot with him though. Just sayin.) :rolling
David.

David, did not Larry Curry manage Tony's USAC team in the first year or two until Larry went to Vision? BTW, Larry graduated from the same high school that my wife did, albeit about three years later.

Tony could stand to lose 50 - 75 pounds. But then again so could I.

I would love to have Tony back here again. I have been a member of his fan club since the beginning.