Stewart-Haas Racing Announces Hires for
Director of Competition, Crew Chief for No. 39 U.S. Army Team

Bobby Hutchens to Serve as Director of Competition for SHR, Tony Gibson to be Crew Chief for Ryan Newman

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.” (complete release)

Raines Ends No. 70 Team’s Season
With 37th-place Homestead Finish

HOMESTEAD, Fla. – A season that saw seven drivers pilot the No. 70 Chevrolet for Haas CNC Racing came to a close with Tony Raines behind the wheel at Homestead-Miami Speedway where he finished the 400-mile race 37th.

His car featured a special paint scheme celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the team’s parent company, Haas Automation.

The 2008 season saw Jeremy Mayfield, Tony Raines, Johnny Sauter, Jason Leffler, Max Papis, Ken Schrader, and Scott Riggs fill the No. 70s driver’s seat. The 2009 season, however, will feature but one driver, and part owner, behind the wheel as the No. 70 is re-dubbed the No. 14, and Tony Stewart takes over driving duties of what will be the Office Depot/Old Spice Chevy for Stewart-Haas Racing.

Stewart will start the 2009 season where the No. 70 team finished, 43rd in owner’s points and will have to qualify on time or use his “past champions provisional” for the first five races of the season.

  

Riggs Ends Season With
Top-15 at Homestead

HOMESTEAD, Fla. – Scott Riggs ended his tenure with Haas CNC Racing as driver of the No. 66 State Water Heaters Chevrolet in fine fashion Sunday evening with a 14th-place finish in the 400-mile race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

The finish propelled the No. 66 team three spots upward in the owner’s points standings, to 30th, and the car, which will re-emerge in 2009 as the No. 39 U.S. Army Chevrolet driven by Ryan Newman, is guaranteed a starting position for the first five races of the new year.

“I just really want to thank the guys on my team for all of their hard work all season,” Riggs said. “Overall, we didn’t have as good of a season as we were hoping for, but the potential was definitely there, and you saw that tonight.

“Unfortunately we won’t have the opportunity to build on what we’ve started here, but that’s the nature of the business. I’m looking forward to new opportunities and wish nothing but the best for Stewart-Haas Racing.”

Ford 400
Homestead Miami Speedway
Sunday Nov. 16, 2008
Scott Riggs - qualified 39th - finished 14th - photos
Tony Raines - qualified 32nd - finished 37th - photos

 

Daytona 500
Daytona International Speedway
Sunday February 15, 008
Fox