Mr. Stewart Goes to Concord

So Tony Stewart is going to make the move to Haas CNC Racing at the end of this season, and take a majority ownership role (making it into Stewart Haas Racing). I can't say I'm surprised, but I wasn't really expecting this, either. I think it will be a good thing, though, for Tony and for the sport. NASCAR needs more owner-drivers, and especially smart, articulate, and unabashedly outspoken ones like Tony.

The part about this that troubles me, though, is the talk about Joey Logano "replacing" Tony in the Sprint Cup series car at JGR next season. "Sliced Bread" Logano may be a hot shoe, but he's still an 18 year old kid who couldn't drive in the Nationwide series until a few weeks ago because he wasn't old enough. He will have run less than half a season this year, and there's even talk of him making a few Cup starts later this season. That's asking an awful lot of the boy. It's also asking an awful lot of the other 42 guys in that field who could get caught up in any rookie mistakes that might be made, mistakes that perhaps wouldn't be made if Joey stayed in the Nationwide series for a full season and got more seat time and more time on the track with the numerous double-duty drivers. Even with the lack of congruence between the Nationwide and Sprint Cup series cars, there's a lot to be learned about respect, strategy, and just how this sport works. I hope JGR gives Joey the time he needs to develop his potential to the fullest extent.