Stewart's chillin' for now, as are those around him

I gotta tell ya, it was peaceful to see Tony Stewart so calm, placid and at ease this past weekend with his decision to leave Joe Gibbs Racing and take what was apparently a rather sizeable gift -- a 50 percent stake in Haas CNC Racing.

The hope is sincerely that the demeanors surrounding Stewart-Haas Racing are similar three years from now.

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But last week we got to see Tony Stewart being Tony Stewart. And as many people, but unfortunately, not enough know, Tony when he's Tony is a wonderful thing -- a joy to behold.

It was no big deal that Tony held all the cards last Thursday. His low-key demeanor was well worth it.

But it's too bad his "fun" is only beginning.

The worst part of Tony's presentation -- and the part I wish he had neither felt compelled to deliver nor I had witnessed -- was his apology to the media for his behavior during the past two or three months.

I know he'd hate to hear this -- but the Tony Stewart many people in all categories of the sport dislike is Tony as the media's puppet. Well, maybe not a classic puppet on a string -- but certainly a doll that a mean-spirited child could tear the arms, legs and head off of, at will.

You don't have to tell me Tony would go wild to acknowledge that. But when, by its very presence and its badgering and its incessant demands the Fourth Estate creates Tony's Evil Twin; well, he's the media's puppet -- because the result is not Tony Stewart.

But for better or worse, he better get used to it, because not only will the badgering to find out who his sponsors will be, who his co-driver will be, who his crew chiefs will be and which personnel he's hired be a weekly thing, it will begin when the Sprint Cup Series gears back up at Indianapolis.

It won't end there.

Until Stewart-Haas Racing wins -- and that may take an awfully long time -- the questions about when that'll occur will rain down.

Stewart dealt with the inevitable question last week, but his answer makes you wonder about the reality of the next year to 18 months.

"I haven't won a race this year and I think we've handled it OK considering the circumstances we've been under in some of those losses," Stewart said.

The fact is, Stewart's led laps in nine of the first 19 races this season, including the most laps three times -- and none of those three could be considered his best opportunities to win, more than getting a flat tire at Lowe's Motor Speedway in May or getting wrecked in the late stages at Infineon Raceway in June.

Stewart-Haas Racing

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• Stewart to put stamp on team
• Menzer: Gamble worth taking
• Aumann: Driver-ownerships
• About Haas CNC Racing
• Video: Tony Stewart presser

The fact is, from the first year that he stepped into Joe Gibbs Racing's racecars, Stewart has been competitive; and that makes a big difference in attitude.

And while he said he has no idea when competitiveness will come next year, he expects it. If Stewart's able to achieve that in short order, the respect he gains would be enormous.

"I really feel like when you look at this program, we have support with Hendrick engines, Hendrick chassis and Hendrick technical support," Stewart said. "So I feel that we have the variables in place to go out and be competitive right away."

The problem is, Haas CNC Racing has had those same elements in place for the 257 races that it's existed, and has one top-five finish, 14 top-10s and no poles to show for it.

That's way more a statement of how difficult it is to achieve in Cup racing than it is how hard Haas CNC has been striving to create those achievements. Next week's grand opening of the Windshear rolling road wind tunnel facility is the latest testament to those efforts.

But in the aftermath of the Stewart-Haas announcement, the only thing that makes you scratch your head and wonder about the power of certain drugs is that -- faced with those facts, or maybe in ignorance of them -- 62 percent of the respondents to a poll during last weekend's TNT race broadcast from Chicagoland Speedway said "yes" to the question: "Would a Haas-Stewart Racing driver make the 2009 Chase for the Cup?"

They responded in the affirmative without even knowing anything more about personnel, a teammate or sponsorship.

Tells me "Tony Stewart" ought to be considered for listing as a Schedule 1 narcotic by the federal government -- though his worthy successes in 10 years are notable, both on the racetrack and in the racing business.

Bottom line, it'll be a fascinating ride, and one that you can only hope for which Stewart and Haas CNC's current general manager, Joe Custer, are ready.

It seems like those around them are. Joe and J.D. Gibbs might not have been too thrilled when the reality of Tony's departure blossomed; but the supporting cast has made it easier -- as his teammates continue to thrive.

Joe Gibbs Racing

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• 1on1: Joe and J.D. Gibbs
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• Caraviello: Fit for a King?
• Zipadelli staying with 20 car
• Video: Stewart, Gibbs on TNT

More to that effect

Isn't it ironic that the slimy Chicagoland infield is about the only thing that's been able to stop Kyle Busch lately? And even more appropriately, that his crew hustled to the rescue and enabled maybe the coolest post-race theatrics in recent history to unfold.

While we're on the subject of Busch -- did anyone else find it absolutely intriguing that he raced for laps, side-by-side with Matt Kenseth early in the race, like a dog with Carl Edwards later and twice in the last 20 laps -- including with the race on the line -- with Jimmie Johnson?

And he never touched any of them? If that doesn't make you appreciate Kyle Busch's talent -- you're just too full of hate to comprehend.

And leave it to the babe of the bunch to sum up the whole mess. While a debate rages around whether the 2009 seat in JGR's No. 20 Toyota should be Joey Logano's, he was in Chicagoland, keeping a pretty low profile judging by how little he showed up in print.

But in a brief TV interview on ESPN2's Nationwide qualifying coverage, Logano was at least smooth, if not polished, when he acknowledged that Stewart's announcement was a big deal, but that "Joe Gibbs Racing was still a great organization, with plenty of great drivers," or words to that effect.

Enjoy the weekend off from Cup, visit your local short track or watch some Craftsman Truck or Nationwide racing; and then prepare for the show to begin.

The opinions expressed are solely of the writer.