Will Stewart make this the year of the owner-driver?

By Mike Smith (contact)

Friday, Sept. 18, 2009 | 4:11 p.m.

From a records standpoint, a fourth consecutive Cup title by Jimmie Johnson would be a historic accomplishment that could stand unbroken for decades. But this isn’t the only championship scenario heading into the last 10 races that I find intriguing.

The last owner-driver to win the Cup was Alan Kulwicki in 1992. Now, 17 years later, Tony Stewart, who enters the Chase in the second position, is within striking distance of repeating Kulwicki’s feat.

Stewart’s path to a possible championship as an owner-driver is much different than the one taken by Kulwicki. Kulwicki’s operation was smaller, cheaper, and mostly run and controlled by Kulwicki himself. Stewart’s team has staff members with MBAs and engineering degrees, not to mention top-dollar sponsorship, and big factory support from an auto manufacturer. Stewart also was in the fortunate position to have a team owner approaching him with a killer deal. What driver would say no to someone who was basically willing to turn over the keys of his operation?

I’m not suggesting that because Stewart has had more tools at his disposal that a championship by him would be less of an accomplishment. Each driver has had to face his own set of challenges, some of which are unique to each period. The level of competition is so fierce now that it’s difficult for even well- established teams to win championships (that is, unless we’re talking about the No. 48 organization.) And the fact that Haas Racing wasn’t exactly a powerhouse team when Stewart took the reigns is another potential stumbling block that Stewart has overcome.

But regardless of the circumstances and the obstacles that an owner-driver faces, the fact that Stewart, in his first year as an owner-driver, might accomplish a feat that hasn’t been reached in 17 years would make a Cup victory by him even more impressive. Kulwicki’s success encouraged other drivers to take the owner-driver route. And that route often led to limited success. Even if Stewart doesn’t win the championship this year, his success this season will be a phenomenal accomplishment.

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