Tony Stewart, the reigning Sprint Cup champion, a likely Chase contender this year and the pole-sitter for the AdvoCare 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, is losing his primary sponsor, Office Depot, at the end of the season.
Mike Arning, a spokesman for Stewart Haas Racing, confirmed the move on Sunday and said the team and Stewart are still hoping to remain affiliated with Office Depot on some level.
“SHR is in continued discussions with Office Depot regarding possible future roles the company could have with the team,” Arning said.
Arning also passed along a statement from Mindy Kramer, Senior Director of Communications for Office Depot.
“The decision to significantly curtail our relationship with Stewart-Haas Racing was very difficult and one that we did not take lightly,” Kramer said. “However, the changing business landscape warrants a realignment of priorities and resources.
“That being said, Tony Stewart has been an exceptional ambassador for our brand, and he has gone above and beyond in everything that he has done for our Company. Being a part of his legendary 2011 championship run was a moment of tremendous pride for everyone at Office Depot.”
Mobil 1 is planning to return to Stewart’s team in 2013 as co-primary sponsor, as it is this year, Arning said.
“Runner-up jinx” not a factor for Edwards
For whatever reason, in recent years the driver who finishes second one year in the championship standings tends to have a disappointing year the next go-round.
Carl Edwards is in that position this year after tying Tony Stewart in points last year but losing the title on the tie-breaker of race wins, which went to Stewart who had five wins to Edwards' one.
But Edwards insisted in his interview session at Atlanta Motor Speedway that the “runner-up jinx” isn’t a factor in a performance this year that has seen him go without a win and enter the Atlanta race outside the top 10 in points.
“There are a couple reasons we’re in this position in points,” he said on Friday. “One of them is not the fact that we finished second last year in the championship, truly.”
He said he’s had all kinds of disappointments this season.
“As we went through the season there are two things that happened that I think really set us behind,” he said. “Number one, terrible luck.”
He cited several mechanical issues and a crash early in the season at Bristol.
Then he said that his former crew chief Bob Osborne, who stepped aside in mid-season because of health issues, wasn't able to perform at the highest levels when he was on the job.
“I think all of that kind of added up to just mediocre performance combined with terrible luck,” he said, adding again that it’s not related to the let-down from last year.
“I don’t wake up every morning and go, ‘Man, I can’t believe we didn’t win that championship last year,’” he said.
Barriers and barrels add to pit safety
After Mark Martin's crash into an opening in the pit wall at Michigan International Speedway two weeks ago, Atlanta Motor Speedway workers added concrete barriers and barrels filled with sand to the track's pit openings to protect those standing in vulnerable areas – as well as drivers - when cars were on the track.
“It’s simple, but it will do the job,” track president Ed Clark said. “I don’t know if that’s the long-term solution, but it will work for this weekend.”
Hmiel makes cameo
The photo of a smiling Shane Hmiel, sitting on pit road at Atlanta Motor Speedway beside the truck he once drove, said it all. Hmiel, who was banned for life from NASCAR for failing drug tests, then seriously injured in an open-wheel race, was given permission to attend Friday's Camping World Truck Series race. He was at track with his former team owner, Billy Ballew of Blue Ridge and was welcomed back by many of his former competitors and crewmembers.
