As Stewart-Haas Racing begins its second year, expectations will be higher and goals will be loftier than those set in the team's first year of operation. Tony Stewart and Ryan Newman both knew they wanted to have fun and run well. Beyond that, they did not set too many expectations for 2009.
When Stewart left the successful Joe Gibbs Racing team and Newman left an established Penske Racing team to become the Stewart-Haas drivers, most fans also expected a rough road. Few people expected Stewart to lead the points standings at the end of the regular season and Newman to put his car in the NASCAR Chase.
"We really didn't know what to expect coming into this season," Newman said. "People asked about our expectations and our goals -- and we had some goals -- but we didn't know what the expectations would be. And people said it looked like a risk to leave Penske Racing, but to me, Stewart-Haas Racing looked like an opportunity. Yeah, there was risk associated with it, but it was an opportunity."
Stewart left Joe Gibbs Racing to Form His Team
Tony Stewart started his Sprint Cup career driving for Joe Gibbs Racing and credits the business skills he learned from Gibbs for his success at Stewart-Haas. Gibbs taught him to hire good people and then allow them to do their jobs. He also aligned his organization with the extremely successful Hendrick Motorsports for some of his equipment.
"I feel like for a first-year team, I have to give us an 'A'. If we could've won the championship, you would give yourself an 'A+', but for a first-year team an 'A' or an 'A-' is appropriate for what (we) had to do to come together in such a short amount of time."
Stewart Ran Well and Led "Regular" Season Before Chase
The team's first win was Stewart's victory in the All-Star Race, followed by four victories in points races. He led the points standings for 13 weeks until the Chase began and the points were reset. He finished the season sixth in the points. Although Newman did not win in 2009, he earned two poles and finished ninth.
The off-season will give the drivers time to relax and prepare for 2010 when they can build on the knowledge they have gained from a year with the new team members.
Goals for next year will include winning a championship for one of the Stewart-Haas drivers. Newman will be looking for his first win with the new team. But along the way, one thing is certain -- the two Indiana drivers will manage to have some fun!
Rosalie Thompson - Rosalie Thompson enjoys writing about NASCAR, real estate, gardening and travel in the Southeastern United States. After graduating from ...
