Tuesday, September 7th "What If" Question

Since entering the Sprint Cup Series in 1999, Tony Stewart has always been a driver to watch out for. It didn't matter on what type of track or in which type of car, Smoke was going to be a factor one way or another. Until 2009 he and crew chief Greg Zipadelli were the longest running crew chief and driver combination and they were a good one as well.

The pair won two championships and 32 races before Stewart made the decision to leave Joe Gibbs Racing to start his own team of Stewart-Haas Racing. Zipadelli stayed at JGR, feeling that he owed it to the company that gave him his chance. Stewart set up in 2009 and picked up right where he left off at JGR, winning four races and leading the championship standings for much of the season.

When the Chase started his No. 14 team's performance fell off from their regular season status but still came home with a top 10 standing, ending the year sixth. It was quite the success for a driver that once was thought to never leave the company that he started his career, his NASCAR career after coming from open wheel, with. Sometimes the grass is greener on the other side and things work out for the best.

Stewart's decision though might have steamed from a larger situation. He's also had a strong relationship with Chevrolet and it was a year after JGR had switched from Chevrolet's to Toyota's that Stewart worked to be released from his contract early and left. At Stewart-Haas he's back behind the wheel of a Chevy.

But ...

What if Joe Gibbs Racing never switched to Toyota. Would Tony Stewart have still left his contract early and started his own team?

@Talon64 Damn, this is a hard one! Tony might still be with JGR today, and Joey would be in a 4th JGR car.

@Emily_988 I don't think he would have left it early, but I do think he would have left and started his own team.

@kaobose No, Tony likes his bow ties. He as always felt comfortable behind a Chevy. @mw55 (Michael Waltrip) would Kyle Busch have had such a breakout in his career if he had gone to MWR to drive a Toyota? What if....

@felipegana I think Tony would have stayed in JGR. He would have gone to ownership later in his career, in the last years before retiring.

@DRLDeBoer Toyota certainly made his decision easier. Even if still Chevy I still think Tony does the Haas deal too good to pass.

@NancyatStudioN I think that's the biggest reason he left. He might not have been as open 2 Haas' offer, they might have had 2 offer him more. I do think he always intended 2 own his own team someday, it just wouldn't have been so soon (Of course he isn't full owner).

@ronsracing88 I think Tony would of stayed w/ Gibbs if they were still Chevy.

@phathead It's highly unlikely Smoke leaves if they stick with Chevy. I don't think even JGR realised how ingrained it is in him. Plus I'm pretty sure he held the same sentiments about Toyota as the avg fan did when they entered.

@DarlingtonChick I think Tony likes to take control of situations & make a difference. (Eldora) & I think he wanted create a post-driving NASCAR career.

@SD80MAC Yes. The offer of owner part of the Hass team still would have been enough to get him to leave JGR. Tony I think has wanted to be a team owner for several years.