Other names will deserve to be on this list a lot of which
Other names will deserve to be on this list, a lot of which will probably be freshmen phenoms and international players. . According to current crew chief Greg Zipadelli, Tony Stewart sounds like a man committed to greener pastures in 2009. The driver of the #20 Home Depot Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing is unsatisfied with his current team, according to rumors that broke at Talladega weeks ago, and is looking at potential ownership opportunities for the 2009 season.Much like the silly season last year revolved around Dale Earnhardt Jr., this year's silly season revolves around the wants and needs of Stewart.Earnhardt found the performance and leadership he sought at Hendrick Motorsports. Stewart may find his potential ownership opportunity at Haas CNC Racing, a mid-pack team currently struggling with little sponsorship and low-level drivers.The entire silly season revolves around whether Stewart jumps on the opportunity.
Does he want to stick with the top Gibbs team, which has provided him with decent cars (at worst) all season, despite relegating him to third driver status based on performance? Or does Stewart want to risk becoming the next Michael Waltrip, an owner-driver stretched too thin by the demands of running a multi-car team while simultaneously trying to qualify for races?Below is a potential synopsis of what may occur if Stewart makes the leap into ownership.---1. Tony Stewart Racing formedStewart buys into Haas CNC Racing, assuming majority ownership from current managing partner Joe Custer. Keeping the team at two cars, his presence alone is enough to attract plenty of potential sponsors; Stewart manages to lure Bass Pro Shops away from Dale Earnhardt Inc. to sponsor his #70 Chevrolet.Unsure about sponsorship on the #12 Penske Racing Dodge he currently drives, and noting that UPS has made the move to TSR, Ryan Newman also joins the fledgling team, assuming the drivers' seat of the #66 Chevrolet.2. Hendrick Motorsports picks up Martin Truex Jr.With Bass Pro Shops leaving DEI for TSR, Martin Truex Jr. has no sponsor for the #1 Chevrolet he drives for Teresa Earnhardt. With the #5 Kellogg's Chevrolet at Hendrick Motorsports underperforming, and with close friend Dale Earnhardt Jr.
already driving for HMS, Truex replaces Casey Mears in the seat.This seems like a natural fit, as the #5 and #88 teams at Hendrick work together, much as the #24 and #48 teams of Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson do.3. Penske Racing replaces Newman with StremmeLongtime Dodge driver David Stremme signs with Penske Racing to replace Newman in the #12 Dodge. Currently a Penske test driver, Stremme ranks ninth in Nationwide Series points in 15 starts for Rusty Wallace Racing.Penske convinces Kodak to move up and foot the bill for the entire season on the hood of Stremme's car. With the Alltel brand being phased out after Verizon's purchase of the company, Penske needs a company to step up for the 2009 season.Chase Austin replaces Stremme full-time in Rusty Wallace Inc.'s #64 Chevrolet in the Nationwide Series.4. US Army, State Water Heaters join Bill Davis RacingWith DEI a sinking ship, the US Army joins Bill Davis Racing as a sponsor for its #22 Toyota. State Water Heaters also joins the team as a sponsor for the #23 Toyota.Popular BDR driver Dave Blaney, the first driver to ever win a pole for Toyota, is retained to drive the #22, while Scott Riggs joins State Water Heaters (his current sponsor) at the #23 team.5. Richard Childress Racing signs David ReutimannDavid Reutimann joins RCR as the driver of the #33 Cheerios Chevrolet, beating out Scott Wimmer and Aric Almirola for the ride.