Full Throttle

So, today’s the day.

Supposedly Tony Stewart will make it official in a ChicagoLand presser of his future plans after negotiating his contract release for Joe Gibbs Racing.

It’s expected Tony will announce the purchase of at least a 50% stake in Haas Racing, that he will pilot one of the cars, and fellow Indiana native Ryan Newman will take the second seat although Newman has been silent on his future plans at this point.

Assuming Newman is slated for the new team that leaves Scott Riggs out in the cold, one of many dominoes that will fall within the next couple months.

Also actually on, or rumored to be on “the outs” are Mayfield, Truex Jr, David Stremme, Casey Mears, Paul Menard, David Reutimann, Michael McDowell and a cast of thousands I’ve probably forgotten.

Which brings me to the NASCAR question of the day. All of the above named drivers won’t experience a soft landing into a field of cotton, some will have a very hard landing.

Which ones will end up in a third tier team - as depicted by the “slow moving” vehicle in the image above - for the 2009 season?

While you ruminate about that, let me toss this out:

I’m far from sold on all the air-kisses passed thru the press between Ganassi and Juan “Latino Piloto is Muy Bueno” Montoya. I’m thinkin” Montoya is highly pissed over so many crew chief changes, has had a good look around the NASCAR side of the Ganassi house and is ready to split the blankets for greener pastures.

Latino Piloto has been there long enough to determine what’s what, who’s who, silently exclaimed ¡Qué el infierno del frickin! and will soon say, “Hasta la vista baby!”

To land where? How about this loooog shot, with Stewart. (as he doffs his foil hat)