Nascar Multi-car Teams vs Equipment?

Question

The whole story regarding Tony Stewart leaving JGR and reading how he has been given subpar equipment to drive this year has me wondering, why do multi-car owners apparently show favoritism towards one driver/team vs the others? And more specifically, it seems odd to me that JGR would favor someone new coming in, like Kyle Bush...an up-until-now unproven talent, vs Stewart, who is a former 2-time champion.

It would be like Hendrick getting rid of Gordon or Johnson in favor of unproven talent. Speaking of Hendrick, perhaps the same situation applies here? Dale Jr. is doing the best out of that stable this year, so does that mean he's getting the best equipment? Why would you give a less-proven talent better equipment, vs a 4-time champion? Why even show favoritism to begin with? Why not try to give everyone equal equipment?

Answer 1

First I do not think Toyota would let Gibbs give Tony inferior equipment and Second Tony would not stand for it. He was vocal about tire quality  and he be very vocal about  poor equipment.  Just a off year so far

Answer 2

If you think for one minute we won't see Mark Martin in "Hendrick's best" next year, you can think again. Dale, Jr will be right in line with Jimmie and Jeff going "What the heck happened to me?!" Rick Hendrick will see to it that Mark gets that elusive Championship at the expense of the 24, 48, and 88. Trust me.

Answer 3

Jr is getting the best at Hendrick but Gibbs has more morals than that so everyone on that team gets equal equipment. Richard Hendrick is all about the money.

Answer 4

Huh? get real. All the cars are built to NASCAR rules, adjusted by each drivers team per the drivers instructions.

This is a mega bucks sport-that would be ludicrous.

So, that means when Kyle Shrub starts dropping out of races or running in the back 20-43, now he's getting inferior equipment. Right.

Answer 5

I dont think Stewart was getting inferior equipment.  I think they are just having an off year.  Running well is relative.  Not everyone can run "well". Only 1 car can finish 1st, one car 2nd, and so on.  If everycar was Jeff Gordon quality, somebody would still have to be the slowest, and next to last slowest and so on.

Answer 6

You'd like to think that owners don't do that but I have to believe it is true, to a degree.  We've definitely seen it at Roush/Fenway and HMS in the past.  With the speculation that Tony was leaving, as early as April, I don't doubt that the 18 and 11 teams have been getting the better stuff this year.  You can be assured that Kyle was not getting as good of cars in the 2nd half of last season, after he knew he was leaving HMS in 2008.

3 STR8 N 08!!!