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Tony Stewart to race at Daytona for Hendrick Motorsports
CONCORD, N.C. – Two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Tony Stewart will attempt to qualify a No. 80 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet prepared by Hendrick Motorsports for the Feb. 14 Nationwide Series race at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway.
Stewart, the defending winner of the Camping World 300, has won the season-opening event three times — twice with owner Kevin Harvick (2005 and 2006) and once with Joe Gibbs (2008).
Should he qualify, the race will mark Stewart’s first-ever start for car owner Rick Hendrick. The effort will be led by 2003 Nationwide Series champion crew chief Lance McGrew.
“After winning the season-opening Nationwide Series race at Daytona three times, we’re going to try and get another one, this time for Rick,” said Stewart, who has seven career Nationwide Series victories. “Hopefully we can go back-to-back for a second time and put the HendrickCars.com Chevrolet in Victory Lane. Rick and I have been friends for years, so it would mean a lot to me to get a win for him.”
As a car owner, Hendrick has 13 total NASCAR victories at Daytona, including three in the Nationwide Series. He has won the prestigious Daytona 500 six times.
“Tony is one of the best drivers in the world,” Hendrick said. “We know how terrific he is at Daytona, so I told the guys to build him a fast car and let him do what he does best. He’s a great friend, and it’s going to be fun to see him drive for Hendrick Motorsports for the first time.”
HendrickCars.com features more than $90 million in used-car inventory and the largest selection of manufacturer-certified vehicles in the nation. Customers can browse more than 5,000 cars of all makes and models from the 80 Hendrick Automotive Group franchises nationwide. Each comes with a free CARFAX vehicle history report.
“We chose the No. 80 to represent all of our stores,” said Hendrick, also the chairman of Charlotte-based Hendrick Automotive Group. “This is something our folks can get excited about and rally around, and it’s a great way to promote HendrickCars.com. It’s become a premier destination for online car buying, and we’re committed to making it a world-class experience for our customers.”
Filed under: Tony Stewart · Tags: Camping World 300, Hendrick Motorsports
Great! Let’s get Tony out there as often as possible. The races are more exciting with him on the track! So now we have the shootout and the Nationwide race – cool!!!
This will give Tony another chance to use the Hendrick equipment and get used to it. Go Tony!!!!
This is great. He will get use to the Hendrick setups and make him even better. Go Tony Go. He will win again.
Tony Its about time that you went on your own, no dis respect for coach. And how about Ryan Newman, I dont think you could have made a better choice. Good luck to you and Ryan.
Aloha Mr. Stewart (& Mr. Ryan),
I was shocked at first with the news that you both were leaving your respective teams, and go at it on your own with the formation of the Stewart-haas Racing Team. That’s a big step…but it’s your style and I support it that move. I’ve followed you (both) for years and I’ve been pleased for years.
Racing for Hendricks!? Hey Mr, Stewart…GO FOR IT! Hele (move) on!!!
hell ya go tony go now you are on your on and with hendricks horsepower engines thats all you need to win the race tony can do the rest i have been fowling tony years now when he was racing in the open wheel series he the best when it comes to driving any type of a racing car todaY besides aJ FOTE AND HE WILL ONCE AGAIN BE A CHAPAION AGAIN AND TONY WILL BE THE ONE THAT KOCKS JIMMY JOHSON OFF AND ALL HENDRICKS DRIVERS KNOWS THAT INCLUDING RICK HIS SELF THEY NEED SOMEONE ELESE OUT THERE BESIDES JESSSSSST 1 CHECY TEAM WINING ALL THE TIME TONY WILL BE THE ONE MAN CAN DO IT I CANT WAIT TILLTHEY DROP THE GREEN FLAG TO SEE TONY GO TO VICTIORY LANE IN HIS # 14 CHEVY AS A CAR OWNER NO OTHER DRIVER HAS DONE IT IN THIS MONDERN DAY SENCE ALLEN KOWICKIE DID IT AS A DRIVER CAR OWNER IT WILL BE REAL NICE TOO SEE TONY DO IT IN HIS OWN CAR AS ACAR OWNER IN VICTIORY LANE IN THAT # 14 OFFICE DEPOT CHEVY GO TO GO
I can’t wait to see TONY on the track in a Chevy again. All the practice he can get is great. I know Tony and Ryan will do great this year.
TONY, I wish you and Ryan lots of luck in 2009.
I am siked that there is only a couple of weeks until the start of another great season, with the BEST driver (and Hot too) on the track!!! Smoke will have a great season and I am ready for the Dega races with the new team!!! Good Luck to you and Ryan and I look forward to another great season of racing with you at the wheel!!!!! :)
i HAVE BEEN A STEWART FAN FROM THE START,GOOD, BAD AND THE UGLY. i WILL ALWAYS CHEER HIM ON AND DEFEND HIM NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS. Some fans change depending on who is winning the most at the time ,but I find Tony’s fans are his always.
ive been a tony fan since his first cup race he won in 1999 at richmond, tony im very excited for you, i know it broke your heart to drive for another manu factureer other than chevy, but your heart came back! so the winning will continue , ryan will find out how much better eqipment in a chevy brand. may you two awesome drivers tear up the track in years to come , i can t wait to see you in the # 80 car for hendrick motorsports and thanks for sticking with chevy tony , i hope you don t get tired of climbing the fences , cause you will be doing a lot of it for years to come
Go, Smoke! I was never a NASCAR fan until you started racing for THD and am crushed to see them let you go. All my orange is packed away and now I need some red,white and black! I don’t like the COT, but will watch or listen to every race! I hope to make a road trip on my motorcycle and catch one of the races at Eldora…Seee you there!