Loose in Turn Three: Will the Big Penalty Influence Stewart’s Decision?

Welcome everyone to yet another rendition of your favorite weekend blogging series.  I’m joined here by Bruce Simmons from Bruce’s NASCAR Bits & Pieces, and the infamous Charlie Turner from On Pit Row for our weekly rendition of “Loose in Turn Three”.

This week here at Do You NASCAR, we’re going to determine what effect – if any – the big penalties handed out by NASCAR to Haas CNC Racing will have on Tony Stewart’s future in the sport. Over at the Bits & Pieces, with Pocono now in the rearview mirror (temporarily), we talk about whether it’s time for them to repave the track, and On Pit Row, Charlie poses an interesting potential solution to reviving some of the races at the “less popular” tracks.

So, sit back and buckle up tight. Three questions, three voices, and three different answer … we’re about to get Loose in Turn Three!

Assuming that he was seriously contemplating the move, do the recent penalties awarded to Haas CNC Racing deter Tony Stewart from pursuing future ownership with that organization?

TZ: I really think it does. Granted, Stewart’s highly regarded as a guy that can drive the wheels off virtually anything, but we’re seeing a trend in NASCAR where drivers’ careers seem to be tapering off at an earlier age than they had in the past. With Joe Gibbs Racing – or really any top-tier team – Stewart can still contend for championships, but it would be a real challenge for him to find a high level of success with any below average team, just as it would be difficult for any driver. He can find ownership otpions with a number of organizations, so with the financial blow that the team’s just been dealt with – not to mention a tarnished image – I just don’t see this as an appealing offer for Smoke anymore.

Bruce:  I don’t think a little thing as a fine / penalty would deter anyone if they were serious about a perspective team.  A plan is a plan, regardless.  As far as a tarnished image, any press is good press, so it would be a turn-around fairy tale story if Tony went there.  It would be an incredible “human-adversity” story the media would eat up.  Would he really go there?  Probably not.  It’s not an impossibility.  Look at when Mark Martin went to the 01 car.  It was a total surprise that they put him up at the front more than anyone ever expected.  But I can’t see him going to Haas.  He’s said in the past that he’s going to finish out his career at Gibbs.  Now we’ll see if that was just company talk or real loyalty.

Charlie:  If none of those Haas cars are in the top thirty five in owner’s points at season’s end – and with the penalties, they probably won’t be – then the Haas CNC team is worth much less than it was when both cars were top thirty five. That might be a key reason for Stewart to put on the brakes in a purchase bid. The fact that the Haas team tried to push the rules won’t – in itself – be a negative. That’s the job of the crew chief – get an edge where ever you can. The owner’s concerns are not necessarily the same. You need some cars in the top thirty five.

Follow the rest of this discussion:
- If NASCAR retains two races at the facility, (And I don’t see why they won’t) do you think the track management should at least repave the track or is there something they can do to change up the action?

- Would requiring race tracks that host multiple races, to have different race lengths for each race resolve the complaints of those who want to take races away from the Poconos and Californias?

*Credit photo to Newscom.