Joe Gibbs Racing signs Stewart through 2009

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Vern Demerest

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Joe Gibbs Racing signs Stewart through 2009

August 28, 2003
7:37 PM EDT (2337 GMT)
HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. -- Reigning NASCAR Winston Cup Series champion Tony Stewart agreed to terms of a contract extension with Joe Gibbs Racing that will keep him behind the wheel of the No. 20 Home Depot Chevrolet through 2009.


Tony Stewart
"I'm happy to have all of this worked out," said Stewart in regard to his new contract. "Joe Gibbs and everyone associated with Joe Gibbs Racing have been very good to me in the seven years I've been here.

"They've always given me everything I need out on the race track, and they've always been there to support me off the track as well. It's a very tight-knit group of hard-working people, and I look forward to spending another six years with them.

"The same is true with Home Depot, who I can honestly say has been the best sponsor I've had in all my years of racing. They're not just a sponsor to our race team, they're a partner and a friend."

The move ends rampant speculation that Stewart was in line to move to Chip Ganassi Racing.

Stewart has driven for Gibbs since 1997 when he ran five NASCAR Busch Series races while running a full-time Indy Racing League schedule.

After winning the IRL championship, Stewart ran a slate of 22 Busch Series races in 1998 - while still balancing the demands of a full IRL schedule - in preparation for an assault on the NASCAR Winston Cup Series in 1999.

Stewart didn't disappoint, winning the Rookie of the Year title on the heels of three wins and two poles, for what was then a rookie record.


In the four years since, Stewart has scored 13 more victories, culminating with last year's Winston Cup championship.

He now has 16 wins, seven poles, 61 top-fives and 97 top-10s in 164 career Winston Cup starts heading into Sunday's Southern 500 at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway.

"Our record of success is pretty impressive," said Stewart, "and you don't just walk away from that. I did have some very flattering offers, and it felt good to be a wanted man, but Joe Gibbs Racing and Home Depot wanted me too, and staying at a place I call 'home' just made sense.

"We've won a lot in our five years together in Winston Cup, and we've got a lot more wins ahead of us. I just want to thank Zippy (crew chief Greg Zipadelli), Joe and everyone at Joe Gibbs Racing and Home Depot for standing by me and giving me all the time I needed to make the right decision."

"Obviously, we're very happy to have Tony with us for the foreseeable future," said Gibbs. "Along with Home Depot, he's been an important part of our organization for a number of years, and we're thankful that's going to continue."
 
:bounce: :bounce: :booya: :booya:

YES! I am glad Tony is staying at Gibbs. I really couldn't see him leaving after Zippy resigned.
Now maybe the rumors will stop!
 
Never had any doubts.

"I did have some very flattering offers, and it felt good to be a wanted man, but Joe Gibbs Racing and Home Depot wanted me too, and staying at a place I call 'home' just made sense."

Money can't buy everything. ;) Nice to see dedication.
 
Through 2009? Wow, quite a long contract. I guess that puts the rumors to rest that Stewart was looking to leave Nascar soon.
 
Wouldve been interesting to see him in Chip Gannassi, but I think 6 more years is too long of a contract for Stewart or anyone else in NASCAR; Dale Jr. aint even signed in DEI for that long.
 
It's funny, but Joe Gibbs is a very strong practicing Born Again Christian. My Dad goes a long way back with a drag racer named Jim Dunn. a couple few years ago Joe Gibbs tried to sign Dunns funny car team to a contract. Jim Dunn met with Gibbs a few times and decided against signing with Gibbs. Jims reason, from what I heard was that Joe Gibbs demands that all who work for him have prayer meetings a couple times a day. Mr Dunn just couldn't go for it. He signed with Moon eye's.

Now, this Joe Gibbs who demands such strick adherence to spiritual works, appears very spiritual and such by doing so, but if we look closer to the man, isn't there a bit of greediness here?

I mean, he wants to sign people who make money for him, and demands that they act like Christians when in fact they may not be Christians which is the case with Jim Dunn and Tony Stewart. Demanding that they *pretend* to be Christians.

You know, like "just pretend your a Christian and you can work for me and make me lots of money"

I have to wonder if Joe Gibbs is a *pretend* Christian possibly only to have some exploitive intentions by it.

Does it seem hypocritical to you?

I don't know, who's to judge?

I just call em as I see them.

I'm amazed that Joe Gibbs being so spiritual would have a Tony Stewart, or Jim Dunn as his drivers.

But then maybe Tony Stewart is a Christian and just doesn't act like it in public.

Jim Dunn has never given me any indication that he is a Christian, but who knows?

For all you guys know, I might be a Christian. :wacko:

All I know is Joe Gibbs professes to be a Born Again Christian, and he appears a bit on the greedy side, considering contracts above genuine confession of faith.

But then whats wrong with that I would have to argue! After all most of our high profile Born Agains are quite greedy if you know what I mean.

Well Mr. Gibbs keep on making loads of money by exploiting the non Christians.

Chalk it up to smart business, but please don't tell me that God is blessing you. I see enough of that on sunday morning television. :cuckoo:
 
First off, from what I have read Gibbs does not demand the people that works for him to attend the prayer sessions but they are availible.
Second I do believe in one of your early post after ripping apart a member for having God in his sig. you stated you are athiest. So why do you really care about Gibbs being a Christian?
You seem to be a very intelligent person, maybe if all you post weren't so negative, people would see the point in some of your posts.
 
Originally posted by SilverRam@Aug 29 2003, 06:49 AM

I don't know, who's to judge?
Click to expand...
SilverRam, I don't know either but I don't think anyone asked you to be the judge. I'm not sure I get what the point is of your post. I definately don't see how Gibbs "makes loads of money by exploiting non-christians". If a successful businessman happens to be a Christian I fail to see how that makes him any more greedy than his competetors. He needs to be just as concerned about the bottom line as the next person.
 
Originally posted by DeeDee@Aug 29 2003, 11:04 AM
First off, from what I have read Gibbs does not demand the people that works for him to attend the prayer sessions but they are availible.
Second I do believe in one of your early post after ripping apart a member for having God in his sig. you stated you are athiest. So why do you really care about Gibbs being a Christian?
You seem to be a very intelligent person, maybe if all you post weren't so negative, people would see the point in some of your posts.
Click to expand...
Actually Dee...that was Brand X Guy who ripped religion and then professed to be an Athiest. I can see where you could get confused. They started about the same time and have very similar views.

SilverRam....(ahem)....

I imagine it would be infinitely easier to stand on the sideline and criticize someone who is trying to live the right way than to actually make an attempt to do so yourself.

It is also highly unlikely that any christian would insist that someone attend prayer meetings. If you don't want to be there it kind of defeats the purpose.

Bashing someone's beliefs is about as ignorant and offensive as posts get around here.

I'll stop now
 
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