SHR co-owner Gene Haas and
General Manager Joe Custer offered the 2004 Sprint Cup Series champion a 2014 contract
recently, with the offer now resting in the hands of Busch’s attorneys. Tony
Stewart and Director of Competition Greg Zipadelli have consistently ruled out
the possibility of adding an additional car for 2014, with Stewart insisting as
recently as last month, “We are not ready to expand to a fourth team.”
Sources tell GodfatherMotorsports.com that Haas and Custer
brokered the deal on behalf of SHR, and that Stewart may not have known of the offer
until it was already on the table. The three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion
continues to recuperate from a compound fracture of his right tibia and fibula
suffered in a Sprint Car crash on August 5.
Custer declined to comment today, saying,
“We are not confirming that. We are looking at all options, so it’s too early to
go out into the media.”
Zipadelli told MotorRacingNetwork.com reporter Dustin Long yesterday, “Stewart-Haas
Racing constantly strives to improve itself, and expansion is something that is
often discussed. If the right opportunity presents itself, it's something the
team will certainly consider."
Sources close to the team say
Stewart, Danica Patrick and new 2014 driver Kevin Harvick all have only partial
sponsorship in place for next season, and that Busch’s fourth entry would
likely be funded largely by Haas. The SHR co-owner is founder, president, and sole stockholder of Haas
Automation, one of the world's largest CNC machine tool manufacturers, in addition
to being the sole owner of the Wind Shear rolling-road wind tunnel in Concord,
NC. Haas Automation has served as primary sponsor of Newman’s No. 39 Chevrolet in
a number of races this season.
Busch is currently ninth in Sprint
Cup Series championship points driving for Furniture Row Racing, a team that
has never finished better than 24th in its nine-year Sprint Cup Series
history. The 2004 series champion is a 24-time winner on NASCAR’s premiere
circuit, as has made major strides in resurrecting a career that previously
included equal doses of success and controversy.
“The focus is making the Chase,”
said Busch last week. “We have four weeks to go, and we’re in great position. Phone
calls (from other teams) have happened, but nothing’s going to change. We’re still
really focused on the Chase and what we can do together.”
Think Smoke was mad about his leg. Bet this behind his back deal really has him jumping up and down inspite of the broken leg. Makes Tony look like a fool and that he has no say about anything and is merely a Gene Haas puppet. Surely, Tony's contract has something in it that he can stop this deal from happening without his okay.
ReplyDeleteWow. What Dis of Poor Little Newman. Jus.n Pablo Montoya got let go a lot mor respectfully.#greyarea
ReplyDeleteSo GoDaddy isn't backing Danica for a full season in 2014 as they are this year?
ReplyDeleteI would really like to see Kurt give the Furniture Row team another season, I really think they are on the verge of something special.
ReplyDeleteKurt needs to go to Richard Childress' team. They helped put him in the Furniture Row car, he'd be the piece of the puzzle RC needs with Harvick gone, and unless RC has offered Newman a contract, it's the right place to go. In my opinion. RC needs another 'black hat' racer on his team.
ReplyDeleteIts definitely going to be interesting if he accepts it. My opinion.....newman wasn't aggressive enough for their business model. Smoke, harvick and busch are all aggressive behind the wheel. Newman is a calculated move kinda driver. Theres a new powerhouse in the midst.....its name......SHR.
ReplyDeleteOne rule in business is never go behind your partners back. Nothing ever good comes from that. Sounds like Mr Haas needs to go back to business school. You have 3 teams not fully sponsored and yet you want to start a 4th even if your footing the bill!?
ReplyDeleteGlad I'm not in business with him. Wonder what 'Smoke' has to say.
I fully understand that sometimes a team needs to make some changes, but after Tony gave us the song & dance of having to let a friend go, and the team isn't ready for a 4th car,and now this news? Have been a fan of Smokes since he came to Gibbs, but if this deal happens,I will be hoping that all the SHR cars crash on the 1st lap of every race!!! Zipadelli, Harvick and Addington best wear police vests so they don't get stabbed in the back also!!
ReplyDelete