Wed Jul 9 00:33:09 2008

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Report: Tony Stewart leaving Gibbs Racing team

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Charlotte, NC (Sports Network) - Two-time Cup Series champion Tony Stewart will leave Joe Gibbs Racing, the Charlotte Observer reported Tuesday night.

Stewart, whose contract as the driver of the No. 20 Home Depot Chevrolet was set to run through the 2009 season, has been with JGR since 1997 and for his entire NASCAR career. The racing team is expected to announce Wednesday that it is releasing Stewart from his contract obligations past this season, the paper is reporting.

Stewart joins Dale Earnhardt, Jr. as the second high-profile driver to switch racing teams this year. Earnhardt, Jr. announced last year that he would be leaving Dale Earnhardt Inc. this year for Hendrick Motorsports.

Stewart has five top-five finishes in this year's Sprint Cup series, but no poles or victories, as he sits in 12th place in the standings, 541 points behind leader Kyle Busch.

The paper also reports that Stewart is most likely to join Haas CNC Racing in place of JGR.

In 1999, Stewart made his Cup debut and won Rookie of the Year honors in the Busch Series while racking up three wins and two poles.