Tony Stewart Foundation Saves Race Horses

Just came across this story on the Hoosier Park website.

Anderson, Indiana - While two-time NASCAR champion Tony Stewart prepares himself for transition to the next phase of his illustrious career - ownership of his own Sprint Cup team in 2009 - the foundation that bears his name is funding the transition of a whole other group of racers from the track into second careers of their own.

The Tony Stewart Foundation has awarded a $20,000 grant to Indianapolis-based Friends of Ferdinand, Inc. (FFI), a not-for-profit volunteer organization that works with owners and trainers at the state’s two horse tracks to identify and obtain thoroughbreds that are nearing the end of their racing careers. FFI evaluates and retrains the horses, and finds new, forever homes with devoted, caring owners. Its motto is “Retired from Racing, Not from Life.”

To date, more than 200 horses have been transitioned from the track into new careers - as show horses, dressage competitors, pleasure and trail riders, equine therapeutic program participants, pasture mates, and beloved companions.

Six to seven new thoroughbreds, the first horses to be christened “Tony’s Ex-Racers,” will be brought into the FFI program on Monday (Nov 17), during the annual end-of-season paddock sale at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino in Anderson. Representatives of both Friends of Ferdinand and the Tony Stewart Foundation will be on hand to take a look at available horses and select those destined to become “Tony’s Ex-Racers.”

“We are thrilled beyond words that the Tony Stewart Foundation has selected our program to receive its support,” said Friends of Ferdinand president Sara Busbice. “A grant this size is significant and enables us not only to continue but to expand the work we do with our Indiana thoroughbreds. Especially now, with the economy in such turmoil, support of this magnitude is simply incredible.

“We sincerely thank Tony Stewart, foundation executive director Joni Thompson, and everyone involved in giving the nod to this grant,” Busbice continued. “It means the world to those of us involved with Friends of Ferdinand, but, more importantly, it literally means the world to the horses.”

A total of 10 horses will be brought into the program as “Tony’s Ex-Racers” – those obtained from the Hoosier Park paddock sale and two or three others already in line to come off the track and into FFI’s care.

The organization is named in memory of the magnificent Ferdinand, the 1986 Kentucky Derby Champion, Breeders’ Cup Classic winner and 1987 Horse of the Year who earned more than $4 million during his career. In 1989 he was retired from racing and exported to Japan to stand at stud. Impossibly, a few years later, Ferdinand was slaughtered for human consumption.

Friends of Ferdinand’s work and accomplishments have garnered support and respect from all segments of Indiana’s racing industry, along with national recognition and funding.

"We do what we do for three reasons,” Busbice said. “These ex-racers are at risk for abuse, neglect and, perhaps, slaughter. Casting the net and catching at risk horses before they end up in less than ideal situations is not only cost-effective but also spares the animals from suffering.”

Busbice praised Hoosier Park for joining the ranks of several other US horse tracks and adopting a zero tolerance policy toward slaughter. According to a statement issued by Jeffrey Smith, Hoosier Park’s general manager of racing, trainers or owners stabling at Hoosier Park who directly or indirectly participate in the transport of a horse from the track to a slaughter facility, or to an auction to sell horses for slaughter, will be prohibited from having stalls at the track.

“We commend Hoosier Park for being a leader in this movement,” Busbice said, “and thank them for their long-standing support of Friends of Ferdinand.”

Friends of Ferdinand, Inc., is a 501(c)(3) organization. To find out more about FFI, including information about thoroughbred adoption, horses currently available, volunteer opportunities, and monetary support, log on at www.friendsofferdinand.org.

Stewart-Haas Racing Announces Hires

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. (Nov. 14, 2008) – Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) announced today that two NASCAR industry veterans will take leadership positions with the team.

Bobby Hutchens, formerly the vice president of competition at Dale Earnhardt, Inc. (DEI), will serve as SHR’s director of competition. Tony Gibson, currently the crew chief for DEI’s No. 8 team, will continue in the crew chief role, but with SHR’s No. 39 U.S. Army team and driver Ryan Newman.

“These are two really important hires for our race team,” said Tony Stewart, co-owner of SHR. “Bobby Hutchens brings a ton of technical and management experience to SHR, and Tony Gibson has helped a lot of well-known drivers earn their recognition by getting them to victory lane. I’m very proud to have both of these guys as a part of my team.”

Hutchens, who has a mechanical engineering degree from North Carolina State University, comes to SHR with 20 years of experience at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series level. A longtime member of Richard Childress Racing (RCR) and its No. 3 team with driver Dale Earnhardt, Hutchens was a part of four championships (1990, 1991, 1993 and 1994) and numerous victories, including the 1998 Daytona 500. The Winston-Salem, N.C., native was promoted to general manager of RCR in 1998, director of competition in 2001 and vice president of competition in 2004. His duties were expanded in 2005 to include oversight of RCR’s expansive research and development program, a role which transitioned Hutchens nicely to his 2007 appointment as general manager of Earnhardt-Childress Racing Engines. In August of this year, Hutchens became vice-president of competition at DEI.

“Stewart-Haas Racing has an incredible amount of potential, and to be an integral part of what we all believe can be a championship-winning organization was an opportunity I could not turn down,” said Hutchens, who in addition to leading race teams, used his mechanical expertise to help develop the Hutchens Device, a head-and-neck restraint system used in motorsports. “It’s important that a race team’s front office is in sync with what’s happening on the shop floor, and having lived in both worlds, I’m committed to making Stewart-Haas Racing a strong and efficient operation.”

Gibson has been a crew chief in the Sprint Cup Series since 2002, working with such drivers as Mark Martin, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Steve Park and Michael Waltrip. Prior to becoming a crew chief, Gibson served as car chief for such notable drivers as four-time Sprint Cup champion Jeff Gordon, 1992 Sprint Cup champion Alan Kulwicki and 1988 Sprint Cup champion Bill Elliott. Gibson was there for three of those aforementioned title runs – two with Gordon in 1998 and 2001 at Hendrick Motorsports, and one with Kulwicki, who like Stewart, was also a driver/owner.

“I’ve known Tony a long time and have always respected him as a racer and as a person,” said Gibson, who grew up in Daytona Beach, Fla., and began his racing career working on his family’s team, with his father Bo serving as crew chief and his brother Mark driving – a trio that won the 1978 track title at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway. “He understands people, works well with them, and genuinely wants to see them succeed. And he’s smart enough to know that their success is also his success. He’s building an impressive race team, and I’m very happy to be a part of it and I look forward to working with him and Ryan.”

In addition to being an extremely dedicated racer, Gibson is an equally avid outdoorsman, a trait that puts him in lockstep with his new driver.

“Tony (Gibson) and I have talked as much about racing as we have about hunting and fishing,” said Newman, the reigning Daytona 500 winner. “I feel like we’re already on the same page, so to speak. I’m not sure who’s more excited about next year –
him or me.”

Tony Stewart Announces Tony Gibson as Newman's Crew Chief

HOMESTEAD, Fla. - Tony Stewart confirmed on Friday that Tony Gibson will be the crew chief for the No. 39 Army Chevrolet and driver Ryan Newman.

In 2001, Gibson took on the position of car chief for Jeff Gordon on the No. 24 car at Hendrick. He moved to Dale Earnhardt Inc. in 2002 and was crew chief for Steve Park and Michael Waltrip before he became car chief for the No. 8 Budweiser car and Dale Earnhardt Jr. in 2005.

When Earnhardt crew chief Tony Eury Jr. moved to Hendrick Motorsports after the Talladega race last year, Gibson became crew chief for the No. 8 DEI Chevrolet. This year he worked with both Mark Martin and Aric Almirola.

"We've signed Tony Gibson for Ryan Newman's crew chief and we're excited about it," said Stewart, partial owner of Stewart-Haas Racing . "I like him and Ryan wanted him so it was pretty easy decision to go get him. It was someone that Ryan really liked and had a lot of faith and trust in.

"I've always liked Tony and got along with him really well" said Gibson. "As soon as we started talking to him we knew he was going to be a really good fit. If you're going to leave a group of die-hard racers you want to make sure that you don't take anything less to your new deal."

Stewart also announced that Bobby Hutchens, currently vice president of competition at Dale Earnhardt Inc., will serve as SHR's director of competition.