Why wasn't Tony Stewart departure from Joe Gibbs Racing big as Dale Jr. departure from DEI?

Question

When Dale Jr. announced that he will DEI, it was the biggest story of 2007.

When Tony announced that he will leave Joe Gibbs after 2008, it was least surprising than Dale Jr departure from DEI.

Tony Stewart: 10 seasons with Joe Gibbs, 32 career wins, 2 Cup championships.

Dale Earnhardt Jr: 8 seasons with DEI, 17 career wins, highest point finish third in 2003.

I think Tony Stewart's departure from Joe Gibbs should be bigger news than Dale Earnhardt Jr. departure from DEI.

Answer 1

It was not a soap opera llike Dale Jr's was.. But Tony leaving JGR is still the biggest story this yr in Sprint Cup so far this yr.

Go Dale Jr & Hms

Answer 2

Becuase Jr is like the most popular driver of the sport and him moving to HMS is a bigger move than Stewart forming a new team with an old team (Haas CNC).

But hey at least he got publicity...gonna be hard to ID him in the 14 car and not the 20 car anymore next season.

; )

Answer 3

WHAT! DEI is Dale Earnhardt Inc-which was his father-he's leaving the team his father built-that's why it was big news-

it's huge news that Tony's leaving Gibbs but not Toyota-didn't you know how much of a Chevy lover Tony was? You would if you were a fan!

Answer 4

cuz i was his dads team, andcuz dale jr has a larger fan base than tony

Answer 5

Tonys father was not the  INTIMIDATOR !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Answer 6

I AGREE!! It should have been big news... But I think it's only because of Jr's popularity for one... & two because Jr was leaving the "family" team...

I really think that's the main reason it was such a big deal.

Answer 7

It was mostly because it was his dads company and most thought he would be there forever.

Answer 8

Dale Jr is the poster boy of Nascar because of who his Dad

is and Tony is not.

Answer 9

Tony, wasn't "Duking it out" with, His stepmom for, control of His  heritage.

Answer 10

um gee maybe because Jr. was sucking that year and because it was his own fathers' race team who had friggin died.

is joe gibbs in any way a relative of stewart?

Answer 11

I think it been that way because Dale's the most popular driver in NASCAR & also because he was leaving his family's team.

Answer 12

Because Tony Stewarts departure isn't dependent upon him winning races. Juniors departure meant that he had a chance of doing better.

Answer 13

because there wasn't any bickering between gibbs and stewart, stewart always wanted to be owner and gibbs knew that, also DEI is run by jr's step mom so obviously he resented her or she didn't care for him, and it has shown that dale was the face and product of DEI and soon they will be forsed to sell it off with perhaps jr getting most of it.

Answer 14

Tony isn't Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Answer 15

Largely due to the fact of the so called "family feud" between Theresa and Dale Jr and his sister Kelly...I can only imagine that is correct and also to the fact that DEI was supposed to be Dale SR's Legacy to his children..all of them not just Taylor; and the press just would not stop! As you know the press were like sharks on a feeding frenzy...

Tony's announcement still was a top story and still will be due to the fact that he is a 2 time champion and starting a new team for 2009 and changing to #17 Foyt's old number..he will remain in the spotlight!

love your answer greenbean..wtg...still laughing, u r good!

Answer 16

Dale Jr's was a bigger one then stewart's because it was dale's fathers company and name and partially ran by his sis I think. Tony Stewart I hate him as a driver but I;m happy for him to get an opputunity like partially owning a racing team.

Answer 17

Smoke's popularity has dwindled over the last year or so, I still like him I think it was all a popularity thing, (did you see where Tony donated moneyt to purchase vests for police dogs with departments that could not otherwise afford them...that was a wonderful thing for him to do) .....JR has a huge following simply being an Earnhardt and Jr. was leaving a family team and many thought he was being disloyal not thinking he gave it a lot of thought and did what was best for him, still I am sure it was a difficult decision...

Answer 18

Poor Mark Martin said HEY !!! What about me! I'm going to

HMS !!! and I was on Mother Teresa's payroll  !!

Answer 19

first off, Dale Jr. was/is the most popular driver.

2nd it was his father's team that he was leaving.

3rd it was owned by his step mother, & there were definitely some issues between them.

Answer 20

Because of the issue with the evil Teressa not giving Dale Jr. 51% owndership in DEI.  In addition to the Earnhardt name too which makes any decision in Nascar important (this is not condiscenting, it is just the truth.)  The thing is that I bet Jr wishes he were not such a big deal and people would just leave him alone.

I am happy to report that this forum has made a big deal out of Stewart leaving so that is cool and I learned a lot from posted questions &  peoples answers.

Answer 21

jr is the medias favorite son

tony isnt as nice to the media