NASCAR: Now That Tony's Going, Will The Fans?

[Church of the Great Oval]

Fans are so very loyal to their drivers. Why would we not follow our Driver?

[Joe]

Anyone who doesn't follow Tony to SHR probably wasn't much of a fan of his anyway. If anything now I see that I'll be backing two cars instead of one.

Besides, why root for the 20 next year, they'll be lucky to get the car into the top 20. Remember how bad the 18 was last year? The difference a driver makes can be big. Right now there doesn't seem to be many really good drivers left out there. The most likely senario seems to be Lagono driving the 20. He may have a lot of talent, but I don't know that he's good enough to step into Tony's shoes.

[DaleJRfan]

True fans will remain true (duh)

[Sycamore]

Joe wrote:

Anyone who doesn't follow Tony to SHR probably wasn't much of a fan of his anyway. If anything now I see that I'll be backing two cars instead of one.
Besides, why root for the 20 next year, they'll be lucky to get the car into the top 20. Remember how bad the 18 was last year? The difference a driver makes can be big. Right now there doesn't seem to be many really good drivers left out there. The most likely senario seems to be Lagono driving the 20. He may have a lot of talent, but I don't know that he's good enough to step into Tony's shoes.

I don't know Joe, Lsgano has done an amazing job in the Nationwide series, even last weekend in the rain on a road coarse. One thing is for sure, it's going to be an interesting year seeing what Tony can do with his new team. It may take him a while to build it up, but I think he will do well.

Wonder when the 14 merchandise will hit the stores? I'm just glad I didn't get a 20 tattoo! LOL!

[LTE14]

Joe wrote:

Anyone who doesn't follow Tony to SHR probably wasn't much of a fan of his anyway. If anything now I see that I'll be backing two cars instead of one.
Besides, why root for the 20 next year, they'll be lucky to get the car into the top 20. Remember how bad the 18 was last year? The difference a driver makes can be big. Right now there doesn't seem to be many really good drivers left out there. The most likely senario seems to be Lagono driving the 20. He may have a lot of talent, but I don't know that he's good enough to step into Tony's shoes.

I will stick with Tony no matter who he drives for. I don't mind Kyle but don't like Denny. I'm not too happy about how JGR won't let Tony take ANY of his crew so I won't be a JGR fan next year.

I WON'T cheer for Joey in the #20 Home Depot car. If they change the number or sponsor then maybe but Tony made the #20 HD car what it is and it will always be part of his history.

[Big-14-Fan]

Sycamore wrote:

<quoted text>
I don't know Joe, Lsgano has done an amazing job in the Nationwide series, even last weekend in the rain on a road coarse. One thing is for sure, it's going to be an interesting year seeing what Tony can do with his new team. It may take him a while to build it up, but I think he will do well.
Wonder when the 14 merchandise will hit the stores? I'm just glad I didn't get a 20 tattoo! LOL!

Hey Sycamore long time no talk to. Um from what he said on TSL he is hoping they'll be out for Christmas time this year, or before Feb. 09 in time for Daytona 500.

[not nieve]

Where Tony goes I will follow, he is a hell of a man and driver and no matter how bad or how good he does I will be there forever. And there isnt anything wrong with Kyle Petty!!!! Yes I am a fan of his also ever since he started racing. And will be til the day he retires.

[ILUVKCO88]

I think most people are Tony Stewart fans and will go with him no matter what. I just hope they realize that next season may not be a good season for him. It's a learning season and hopefully he does well but I'd hate to see fans have the expectations like they had for Jr. First season with a new team probably won't be a season full of wins and a championship. I'm sure it can happen but it's better to not expect that and be pleasantly surprised than to expect it and be disappointed.

[Joe]

Sycamore wrote:

<quoted text>
I don't know Joe, Lsgano has done an amazing job in the Nationwide series, even last weekend in the rain on a road coarse. One thing is for sure, it's going to be an interesting year seeing what Tony can do with his new team. It may take him a while to build it up, but I think he will do well.
Wonder when the 14 merchandise will hit the stores? I'm just glad I didn't get a 20 tattoo! LOL!

I look forward to seeing Lagono move into the cup series, and I wouldn't be too surprised to see him win a couple next year. I just think that it will be more difficult than he's used to. He's very young and Zippy's been around for a long time. I'm wondering if there won't be a reluctance on Zippy's side to really listen to Joey for a while. It has to be tough for a crew chief to spend 10 years with one driver and then have a rookie thrown at them again. So I'm thinking there will be a lot of learning on both sides early next year. Throw in the pressure that will come with Joey entering a car that has won two championships and it seems likely that they'll struggle for a while. You're right though, he stepped into the Nationwide series as if he'd been at it for a long time. Maybe he'll do the same in Cup.

SHR will be my number one favorite next year for sure, but I'll also have a soft spot for the 20 team too. Heck, I have a lot of stuff with the orange 20 on it. I wouldn't want it to go to waste next year :)

I'm wondering when they'll start selling the 14 stuff too. I don't think they had any 88 stuff out before the end of the season last year so I'd guess that will be true for 14 as well. Hopefully in time for Christmas.

[Sycamore]

Big-14-Fan wrote:

<quoted text>Hey Sycamore long time no talk to. Um from what he said on TSL he is hoping they'll be out for Christmas time this year, or before Feb. 09 in time for Daytona 500.

Hey Big 14 - how are you doing? Love the new name!

Christmas would be great. I'll start dropping "hints" to my kids now, LOL!

[Sycamore]

ILUVKCO88 wrote:

I think most people are Tony Stewart fans and will go with him no matter what. I just hope they realize that next season may not be a good season for him. It's a learning season and hopefully he does well but I'd hate to see fans have the expectations like they had for Jr. First season with a new team probably won't be a season full of wins and a championship. I'm sure it can happen but it's better to not expect that and be pleasantly surprised than to expect it and be disappointed.

I've been thinking the same thing. Hopefully his fans will be patient and supportive while he is "growing" his organization. Allot will depend on who he is able to hire, and of course the the most interesting issue will be who his crew chief will be.

I've also wondered if Zippy will join him when his contract runs out. Do you know how many years is left on it?

[Sycamore]

Joe wrote:

<quoted text>
I look forward to seeing Lagono move into the cup series, and I wouldn't be too surprised to see him win a couple next year. I just think that it will be more difficult than he's used to. He's very young and Zippy's been around for a long time. I'm wondering if there won't be a reluctance on Zippy's side to really listen to Joey for a while. It has to be tough for a crew chief to spend 10 years with one driver and then have a rookie thrown at them again. So I'm thinking there will be a lot of learning on both sides early next year. Throw in the pressure that will come with Joey entering a car that has won two championships and it seems likely that they'll struggle for a while. You're right though, he stepped into the Nationwide series as if he'd been at it for a long time. Maybe he'll do the same in Cup.
SHR will be my number one favorite next year for sure, but I'll also have a soft spot for the 20 team too. Heck, I have a lot of stuff with the orange 20 on it. I wouldn't want it to go to waste next year :)
I'm wondering when they'll start selling the 14 stuff too. I don't think they had any 88 stuff out before the end of the season last year so I'd guess that will be true for 14 as well. Hopefully in time for Christmas.

I'd imagine there are contractual reasons why it can't be sold before the end of the season, so Christmas will be just right. In the meantime I guess I'll use a Sharpie to draw a 14 over the 20 on my favorite baseball cap. LOL!

[jgrfan]

My philosophy is, once a Tony Stewart fan always a Tony Stewart fan!

[PosieFor20]

I'm behind Tony 100 percent; he's my driver first and formost. I hope he can be successful next year dispite all the challenges he will face. Having said that, I have been a JGR fan for a long time too (back to Bobby Labonte), and I think that I will continue to root for JGR teams as well, you know, "if Tony can't win (wreck, engine, etc...) then I fall back to Denny and Kyle, that's what I do now.

My biggest problem will be rooting for whoever drives the #20. I feel like I want the #20 to succeed for Zippy and the rest of the crew, but I don't necessarily want Tony's replacement to win, at least not right away. There needs to be a rebuilding time so that they (JGR and Toyota) miss Tony's contribution for a while. I will hate it for the crew there if they struggle, though, because that could make the guys really resent Tony for leaving.

In the end, I will probably root for the #20 team too, mostly for the crew, not the driver.

[Whoyakidding]

Tony isn't going to lose any fans by owning/driving for himself. Anyone that doesn't follow him wasn't his fan anyway, they were a JGR fan or a half assed tag along. Tony will have a great race team and become competitive very quickly. Anybody notice any failures in any of his other ventures.

[Jxlady]

Tony could get out there in a Kia with no engine and drive like Fred Flinstone and I'd watch!! Once he's gone from NASCAR I'm gone.....they can take their cookie cutter drivers and have a great life.

Put wheels on it, give it to Tony Stewart and it will win, no matter the #, color or make!! GO TONY!!!

[Maro]

Whoyakidding wrote:

Tony isn't going to lose any fans by owning/driving for himself. Anyone that doesn't follow him wasn't his fan anyway, they were a JGR fan or a half assed tag along. Tony will have a great race team and become competitive very quickly. Anybody notice any failures in any of his other ventures.

Lets say he doesnt win a race in 09 and 2010...does he start losing fans then?

[Big-14-Fan]

Jxlady wrote:

Tony could get out there in a Kia with no engine and drive like Fred Flinstone and I'd watch!! Once he's gone from NASCAR I'm gone.....they can take their cookie cutter drivers and have a great life.
Put wheels on it, give it to Tony Stewart and it will win, no matter the #, color or make!! GO TONY!!!

Hints his reason to become a owner he does not want to fade from NASCAR as just a driver.

[DaleJRfan]

Jxlady wrote:

Tony could get out there in a Kia with no engine and drive like Fred Flinstone and I'd watch!! Once he's gone from NASCAR I'm gone.....they can take their cookie cutter drivers and have a great life.
Put wheels on it, give it to Tony Stewart and it will win, no matter the #, color or make!! GO TONY!!!

Agreed!!! And re: some earlier posts about Logano, I can't stand him. If he does take over the #20 (heavy sigh), I hope I learn to like him 'cause I hate to have to pull against Zippy.

[Cleo]

Maro wrote:

<quoted text>
Lets say he doesnt win a race in 09 and 2010...does he start losing fans then?

Not necessarily. Winning or losing shouldn't make a difference if you believe in the person that you are supporting, jmho. You take the good with the bad, and hope for the best.