The Tony Stewart saga isn't getting any less complicated, despite reports that he now has a sponsor in Office Depot when he leaves Joe Gibbs Racing for part ownership in Haas CNC.
Reports are now suggesting that Stewart will not take over the ride and ownership at his new team until he finishes out his contract at JGR, a team with which he's driven for 10 years.
Joe Gibbs Racing President JD Gibbs said Friday in Daytona that he is still in negotiations with the two-time Cup champion, and there's even talk that the team may add a fourth car for the 2009 season for 18-year-old Joey Logano.
Old Spice, whose contract is also up with JGR at the end of this year, is rumored to be going to Smoke's new team as well.
Confused? Join the club.
Stewart's announcement on future plans is expected to come the weekend of the Brickyard 400, which takes place in his home state of Indiana. It's also the home state of Ryan Newman, who is rumored to be Smoke's teammate at the new team.
So, what happens if Stewart doesn't go to Haas in 2009, but stays with Gibbs? Will that force Newman to stay with Penske and Truex Jr. to say with DEI if, say, Casey Mears signs with RCR?
Or will Rocket Man launch out of his lackluster team to be teammates with Harvick, Burton, and Bowyer, leaving Mears without a ride? And where is Truex in all this mess, anyway?
To complicate Truex's situation further, not only did he express extreme frustration Thursday when his car was impounded by NASCAR, but DEI may be losing a major sponsor.
John Menard, who owns Menards which is currently sponsoring his son Paul in the No. 15, is apparently talking to Jack Roush about helping Yates Racing stay alive. If young Menard loses a sponsor, hanging onto Truex could prove very vital to DEI's chances of surviving another year.
And I didn't think anything could get more complicated than the Earnhardt Jr./Kyle Busch fiasco of last year.
I stand corrected.
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