Smoke Exits, Empowers Himself

I’ll show you. The phrase is arrogant, conceited, egotistical, obnoxious, and smug. The expression rejects humility and modesty. The maxim renounces reality and veracity. The triad’s rationale is singular. They are an affirmation and an obscenity.

On Wednesday, Tony Stewart declared free agency. On Thursday, he purchased Haas-CNC Racing. For Stewart-Haas Racing, he will drive and half own. “If we don't [succeed] we're going to go down swinging, that's for sure,” said Stewart. “I like challenges. If I didn't like challenges I wouldn't be a part of [owning] three racetracks and four race teams. There are no guarantees this is going to be successful. After sitting down and evaluating the potential of this team I wouldn't have made this decision if I didn't think it was going to be successful and great.”

The exchange left Jeff Gordon stating the obvious. “Haas was in a position where [they said], 'Hey, we've go to get sponsorships. We've got to get some top drivers in here. That's what's going to build our team up to get crew chiefs and engineers and all the rest of the people,” said Gordon. It starts usually with a strong driver. That draws sponsors in, other people's interest in. … For Tony, there are not too many teams out there that are going to offer that kind of ownership.”

This season, Haas-CNC Racing has been abysmal. Currently, Scott Riggs stands thirty-sixth. Their second car stands forty-fourth. “So how does that affect our organization?” asked General Manager Joe Custer. “Top to bottom it affects, obviously, our people. How they view coming to the track this week is different. You know, they knew about this press conference and loading on the plane today was a different, exciting feeling at Haas. And the owners, Haas Automation and all the folks back in California building machine tools there, it affects them.”

During his career, Stewart has amassed 32 wins, 124 top five finishes, and 199 top ten finishes. He also garnered the 2002 and 2005 Sprint Cup championship. "“has been crazy always,” said Dale Earnhardt Jr. “But man, he makes s--- happen. He is taking such a risk, but that's his style. A lot of people may look at that team and say the caliber isn't correct. It doesn't match up. Why would he do that? But he'll make it the way he wants it.”

In 1991, Raghib Ismail snubbed the NFL Draft. Instead, he chose the Canadian Football League. Ismail endured two seasons. He obscured his career. Stewart may succeed. He may score another championship. In my opinion, Stewart has won his final race.