Turn 2

Tony Stewart's never been a typical NASCAR guy. After he made his way to stock car racing's top series in 1999, he was paired with a very good Crew Chief, and, within three years, had won a Championship. He followed that up with another two years later.

But Tony has never seemed entiely comfortable in the NASCAR environment. He's kept his hand in several other series, and owns both a World of Outlaws and a USAC team as well as the Eldora dirt track. Stewart routinely drives in dirt-track events as well as midget car events.

And he's well-known for expressing himself; he doesn't keep criticism of NASCAR to himself, and every now and then, comments on wanting to quit or retire. As far back as 2001, he said he was "unhappy" with NASCAR.

So it's a little surprising to hear that he's looking to go into business with Haas-CNC Racing. There are have been stories that go as far as to claim Stewart is trying to round up sponsors for his plans, and that Ryan Newman, reportedly unhappy at Penske, would join him.

While these stories are uncomfirmed, Stewart's crew chief since the beginning, Greg Zipadelli, has publicly acknowledged that the fact that Stewart hasn't yet re-signed with Joe Gibbs Racing is making things difficult for the team, calling his explorations "disappointing," and questioning why Stewart would want to leave.

"I don't think for just racing there's a better place as far as owners," Zipadelli said. "I don't know if ever in ten years, we've been told, No, we couldn't do something."

Earlier this year, the rumor was that Stewart would try to start his own team from scratch, but apparently, he's moved away from that idea, and with good reason--Michael Waltrip demonstrated last year that starting your own Cup team while driving in the series can be a great way to go bankrupt in 36 races.

Stewart won't talk about what he's planning, or more importantly, why.

Of course, he's still under contract with JGR through next year, and that could be a problem, although with young Joey "Sliced Bread" Logano on the horizon, maybe JGR would be willing to let a disgruntled driver go.

But why Tony Stewart would do this in the first place is baffling.

He's suggested many times that Cup racing is not all that appealing to him, so why get into a major financial commitment in the sport?

And why with a team whose owner is in prison, serving time for tax evasion?

Why leave the only team he's ever driven for, with a stable sponsor, and a long-term Crew Chief?

Is it because all-American Stewart really didn't like being put in a Toyota--and this would get him back into a Chevy? Possible, but it seems like the hard way to do that.

Is he frustrated that his two JGR teammates are getting all the attention nowadays, not to mention all the wins? Again, possibly, but moving to Haas would by no means be the solution to that frustration.

JGR has the deep pockets to win; whether Haas could be equally competitive is questionable. If you want to believe that, you also have to buy the idea that only factor keeping the two current Haas cars, the 66 and 70, out of the Top-35 in owners points is the quality of the current drivers.

Would Zippy go with Stewart? No one knows that for sure but Zippy, but his comments to the press sound as if he's hapopy to keep working for JGR. If so, Stewart would be looking at breaking in a new Crew chief after a decade with the same guy, one who understands him.

This move just doesn't make much sense. Tony's having a tough 2008 season, but his future is likely to be a lot harder if he goes forward with this plan.