Who can count the number of NASCAR racing cynics grousing about Tony Stewart’s judgment to leave Joe Gibbs Racing to become both an owner and a driver and with an “also ran” team to boot ? What is going on with Tony?

Tony Stewart left an outstanding winning NASCAR racing team with a record of 33 races won and 2 championships. He is now owner and driver with a team that scarcely has 5 top finishes since 2003. In 1999, Stewart won rookie of the year award at the Winston Cup Series while driving with Joe Gibbs Racing, the team he started with in 1998.

After only 8 races for Stewart to shut down the critics with top ten finishes in 6 of those competitions. Right now he is fourth in the Sprint Cup standings. This keeps him hanging in there with the NASCAR racing heavy hitters like Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon.

AND Stewart seems to exceed expectations every week! At Phoenix, Stewart had his best finish so far in second place. Stewart is favored to win at the Talladega Super Speedway. If Stewart wins that NASCAR race, he would be the first driver to win a race in a car that he owns since 1998, when Ricky Rudd won at Martinsville. That would be a fantastic feat for Stewart.

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Tony Stewart claims a position in the top 5 in Sprint Cup championship standings as well as with average running position and driver ratings. Stewart Haas Racing is working with Hendrick Motorsports, a real powerhouse team. No wonder they are doing so well so early in this season of NASCAR racing.

Tony Stewart’s teammate, Ryan Newman has not been as successful. Nonetheless the team has improved tremendously since the season began. With a bumpy beginning after only the 4th race, in Atlanta; Newman almost lost his place in the top 35 of the Sprint Cup owner’s standings. He is number 17 now and looking to be 12 soon. Newman had top ten finishes at Bristol and Martinsville. Newman saw potential in Tony Stewart’s NASCAR racing ideas at Stewart Haas Racing and made the career choice to join his team. Sure, it was a risk to leave Penske Racing. In 2000 Ryan Newman started racing stock cars with Penske Racing part time for the ARCA series. He won 13 races including one Daytona 500.

It is looking good for Stewart Haas Racing with a lot of good management and experience on this NASCAR racing team. It also helps to have great crew chiefs like Darian Grubb and Tony Gibson. Bobby Hutchens and Matt Borland fill out the team. Hutchens came to the team from Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Matt Borland has been with Newman back in his days at Penske Racing.

Tony Stewart is at ease right now while he directs his own career. As long as he is pleased with the effort and results, there will be no inner qualms. Stewart feels like a win is on the horizon for Stewart Haas Racing. And so do a lot of other NASCAR racing people who are watching.