Stewart can have success as an owner
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I think most folks expected him to stay right where he is, at Joe Gibbs Racing, especially when you consider the success he has had, the way the Toyota's are running and the two great teammates that he has. It would seem to be the perfect situation.
But let me regress a little bit. In 1986 I was driving for Junior Johnson who, at the time, was the best car owner in the sport. We had won three championships together and a number of races. But I had seen the future of multi-car teams and I saw the man I thought could make it happen — Rick Hendrick. I wanted to be a part of all that. I don't know that I was the best teammate in the world because I had to change my thinking and my approach. But I believed in what Rick was doing and that's the direction I wanted to go.
I drove for Rick from 1987 thru 1990. About this same time in 1990, I decided I wanted to do my own deal. I had come into Cup that way and I had dreamed about doing that again. In 1991, I was fortunate to land Western Auto as my sponsor and start my own team. I had gone to Rick and told him what I wanted to do. He said "DW, I'll help you but I think you are making a mistake." That advice fell on deaf ears because I was so determined to do it my way.
So I was able to get Jeff Hammond and a number of good people to come with me and we started my No. 17 Western Auto team. I was getting my engines and other support from Rick and that first year we won two races and finished in the Top 10 in points. The second year was pretty much like the first. We won three races and again finished in the Top 10. I was so proud of what we had accomplished.
That's when I started to make some mistakes. Long story short, I should have never started doing my own engines. I should have stuck to getting them from Rick. I got greedy and wanted to do everything on my own. That turned out to be my demise. Things went well until 1995 when I got hurt in the All-Star Race at Lowe's Motor Speedway. From that point forward, it all went downhill and finally, in April of 1998 I had to sell my team.
That's my history. My point is, I started with nothing and built something up that could have been big if I had had the resources, the sponsorship dollars and had made a couple of smarter decisions.
This is why I think Tony is wise and why I think he can pull it off. Haas Racing is a great team. They have a brand new shop and it is state of the art. They are affiliated with Hendrick Motorsports. They get their cars, chassis, engines, etc. from Hendrick Motorsports. They are a satellite Hendrick team for all practical purposes. Hass has already built the only rolling ground wind tunnel in North America. They also already have seven-post shaker machines in place. Tony would have all that at his disposal. Everything is there to make this work.
General Motors wants Tony back in the family badly. I am certain they would give him all the support he needs, and when you are married up with Rick Hendrick, you can't go wrong, I promise you. Right now Hendrick Motorsports has more technical support than anyone in the sport. Tony could fit right into that picture nicely.
I definitely understand why Tony is considering doing what he is considering. He is a man that likes to do things his own way. He has a lot of other business ventures in racing. He owns race teams and he even owns a race track. Tony Stewart is a racing entrepreneur. I think he could pull this off.
Like I said, I think he can make a great owner. But here is the theory that was thrown at me when I wanted to do my own deal. If you are the owner and the driver, you can only be a great owner. You can't be both. I don't think I can disagree with that. It's hard to wear the different hats you have to wear when you own and you drive. That was the thing that pulled me apart.
Haas Racing already has a lot of good people in place. When you plug in the excitement that a Tony Stewart can bring to that program, I really think it can be a great opportunity for Tony. Let's face it; I don't think the longevity of the drivers is what they were 20 years ago. I don't see Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson or Tony Stewart driving until they are 50 years old.
I see Tony looking at the big picture and what his long-term plans are. He can come over to Haas and help build up the program as a driver. He can help expand the program and then step back and simply become the owner and get some of these young kids to come in there and drive. That's kind of the way I see it going. I think it will work and I think Tony can do it.
Look, this is not the 1980's and early 1990's. It's not me; it's not Bill Elliott or Ricky Rudd, Alan Kulwicki, Bobby Allison, the Pettys, Buddy Baker, Cale Yarborough — who all owned our own teams at one time or another. I think it's all there for Tony. The orchestra is there, it just needs the conductor. I believe Tony could get the job done and I would love to see him try it.
OH BY THE WAY
I think if Tony went to Coach Gibbs and said he wanted to make a change, Coach will look at his current roster and also at the young upcoming stars he has in the wings and realize that it wouldn't destroy the Gibbs teams if Tony were to leave. Joe Gibbs Racing would keep on going and never miss a beat.
OH BY THE WAY II
I can't believe that Kyle Busch has won another race. I believe we are watching an incredible talent and I think we are watching this young man grow up right before our eyes. It is exciting and fun to watch each and every week. What do you say we all do what I have been doing: sit back and enjoy it? We are watching a once-in-a-lifetime guy that has come along. I think we should appreciate and enjoy what he is doing. We should be fans of what he is doing.
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