While the rest of his race team thrives (see Kevin Harvick and Kurt Busch) or is improving incrementally (Danica Patrick), Stewart is hanging with the crowd at the back of the line. “One race could change our whole season…it’s not strictly about a win”. It’s been a disappointing year up to this point.
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Stewart said the No. 14 team he co-owns at Stewart-Haas Racing is “desperately trying to figure out what it’s going to take to move the needle” when it comes to finding a better balance.
Perhaps most frustrating for Stewart has surely been the overwhelming success of his teammates, each of whom drive cars prepared out of the same shop in Kannapolis, N.C. From there, it’s on to Eldora and then his beloved home track, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, for Sprint Cup’s annual stop there.
Much of the criticism of Tony Stewart and his struggles has fallen on the shoulders of second-year crew chief Chad Johnston. It seem just seems everywhere we go we just seem to fight the same battle. There’s something about the way this package is that just doesn’t suit my driving style.
“To me, I don’t care how we get there”. If we can find whatever it is that we’ve been missing, you know, one race can change our whole season. So, I mean, to tell you whether it’s going to be gradual or all at once, that’s hard to say, as well. “Just seems like the further we go into the year, the more frustrating that gets, too”. Only two top fives in the last two seasons.
“I think Kyle’s done an awesome job”, Stewart said.
The three-time Sprint Cup champion and team co-owner wants to see NASCAR chairman Brian France at one of the Sprint Cup drivers council meetings, and he’d like to see NASCAR work with the teams to bear some of the costs on rule changes. It’s just a matter of me figuring [the new NASCAR rules package] out. Now you’re actually having meetings, working hand-in-hand with NASCAR. Does Stewart believe an engineering shake-up might be the key to resuscitating his season? Pocono will be a big test for IndyCar on August 23. The 2013 race drew an estimated 20,000 to 25,000 fans, while the crowd a year ago was even smaller.
When: Sunday, 1:30 p.m.
The Furious 7 300 will feature cast member Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, who will serve as the Grand Marshal as drivers in the NASCAR XFINITY Series help set the stage for the weekend that will feature the first race in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, according to a news release from the Speedway. “That’s to go out there and win the race and get the year going”. Joey Logano won the fall 2014 race at New Hampshire…
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Single-car qualifying will also be used for the Jeff Kyle 400 on July 26 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
