Can Kyle Busch and Tony Stewart co-exist?
By Reid Spencer, Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service
If published reports are true, the term "internal combustion" may apply to more than just the engines at Joe Gibbs Racing next year.
On an eventful Monday that also included the official announcement of the long-anticipated deal between Ray Evernham and Montreal Canadiens owner George N. Gillett Jr., The Associated Press reported that Kyle Busch will drive for Joe Gibbs Racing next year.
Busch supposedly has signed a non-binding letter of intent, which makes sense, given that the lame-duck driver of the No. 5 Chevrolet at Hendrick Motorsports acknowledged Friday at Pocono that he had received the first draft of a contract for review.
Busch, however, did not say which team furnished the draft, though his agent, Jeff Dickerson, indicated Busch has made his choice for 2008, as yet unannounced.
With Busch and two-time NASCAR Nextel Cup champion Tony Stewart under the same roof, one of the most riveting stories of next season will involve how those two Type A personalities interact. Busch and Stewart are fierce competitors, and both have had issues with their tempers on and off the track.
Twice this year, Stewart has had run-ins with Kyle's brother Kurt Busch, the 2004 Cup champion. Teammates are not immune, either. In the Pepsi 400 in July, Stewart was following fellow Gibbs driver Denny Hamlin though Turn 4 on Lap 14 when contact between the two cars wrecked both Chevrolets.
The beginning of the end for Busch at Hendrick Motorsports came at Texas this spring, when Busch was unavailable to drive the No. 5 Chevy after it was repaired from a wreck. Dale Earnhardt Jr. drove nine laps in relief of Busch. Less than three months later came the simultaneous announcement that Earnhardt would drive for Hendrick next season and that Busch was being released at the end of the year.
Driver J.J. Yeley, whom Busch ostensibly will replace, already has begun a job search for next year. Yeley has talked to several potential Cup employers but has not reached an agreement with any team at this point.
The Gillett deal, which creates a new entity, Gillett Evernham Motorsports (GEM), can do nothing but help Evernham's struggling three-car operation. Though Evernham remains as CEO of the company, Gillett acquires majority interest and purview over the business affairs.
The deal also plays to Evernham's strong suit. A three-time Cup champion crew chief for Jeff Gordon, Evernham will be able to devote more time to the hands-on preparation of the Dodges for drivers Kasey Kahne, Elliott Sadler and Scott Riggs.
"With the business acumen of the Gillett family and its sports brands, we've greatly expanded our reach," Evernham said Monday in a statement announcing the deal. "This will allow me to focus on our racing operations and team performance, while the Gillett family will focus on our business operations. It certainly allows us to capitalize on our strengths and position GEM for long-term success both on and off the track."
This story was produced by the Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service
By Reid Spencer, Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service
If published reports are true, the term "internal combustion" may apply to more than just the engines at Joe Gibbs Racing next year.
On an eventful Monday that also included the official announcement of the long-anticipated deal between Ray Evernham and Montreal Canadiens owner George N. Gillett Jr., The Associated Press reported that Kyle Busch will drive for Joe Gibbs Racing next year.
Busch supposedly has signed a non-binding letter of intent, which makes sense, given that the lame-duck driver of the No. 5 Chevrolet at Hendrick Motorsports acknowledged Friday at Pocono that he had received the first draft of a contract for review.
Busch, however, did not say which team furnished the draft, though his agent, Jeff Dickerson, indicated Busch has made his choice for 2008, as yet unannounced.
With Busch and two-time NASCAR Nextel Cup champion Tony Stewart under the same roof, one of the most riveting stories of next season will involve how those two Type A personalities interact. Busch and Stewart are fierce competitors, and both have had issues with their tempers on and off the track.
Twice this year, Stewart has had run-ins with Kyle's brother Kurt Busch, the 2004 Cup champion. Teammates are not immune, either. In the Pepsi 400 in July, Stewart was following fellow Gibbs driver Denny Hamlin though Turn 4 on Lap 14 when contact between the two cars wrecked both Chevrolets.
The beginning of the end for Busch at Hendrick Motorsports came at Texas this spring, when Busch was unavailable to drive the No. 5 Chevy after it was repaired from a wreck. Dale Earnhardt Jr. drove nine laps in relief of Busch. Less than three months later came the simultaneous announcement that Earnhardt would drive for Hendrick next season and that Busch was being released at the end of the year.
Driver J.J. Yeley, whom Busch ostensibly will replace, already has begun a job search for next year. Yeley has talked to several potential Cup employers but has not reached an agreement with any team at this point.
The Gillett deal, which creates a new entity, Gillett Evernham Motorsports (GEM), can do nothing but help Evernham's struggling three-car operation. Though Evernham remains as CEO of the company, Gillett acquires majority interest and purview over the business affairs.
The deal also plays to Evernham's strong suit. A three-time Cup champion crew chief for Jeff Gordon, Evernham will be able to devote more time to the hands-on preparation of the Dodges for drivers Kasey Kahne, Elliott Sadler and Scott Riggs.
"With the business acumen of the Gillett family and its sports brands, we've greatly expanded our reach," Evernham said Monday in a statement announcing the deal. "This will allow me to focus on our racing operations and team performance, while the Gillett family will focus on our business operations. It certainly allows us to capitalize on our strengths and position GEM for long-term success both on and off the track."
This story was produced by the Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service
