NASCAR ROUNDUP \ News and notes

November 17, 2008 at 12:00a.m.

Stewart ends Gibbs tenure: A ninth-place finish was not the way Tony Stewart envisioned his last race with Joe Gibbs Racing. Stewart, who will leave the only team he has driven for in NASCAR’s Sprint Cup series to become a driver/owner next season, sat in his familiar orange No. 20 Toyota for a few extra minutes Sunday after the season-ending race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. “I was frustrated,” said Stewart, who lost the lead when he had to pit for gas 11 laps from the finish. It was an emotional day for Stewart. It began with longtime sponsor Home Depot handing out 40,000 orange cards to spectators. When the cards were flipped over, they spelled out “Thanks Tony for 10 great years.” Then, before he got into his car for the start of the race, Stewart shared hugs with each member of his crew, including Greg Zipadelli, the only crew chief he has had since arriving at JGR in 1999.

Also switching: Stewart wasn’t the only driver making his final start before switching teams. Daytona 500 winner Ryan Newman is leaving Penske Racing to become Stewart’s teammate at the new Stewart-Haas Racing, Casey Mears is moving from Hendrick Motorsports to Richard Childress Racing and Reed Sorenson is leaving Chip Ganassi Racing to race for Gillett Evernham Motorsports. “The way we ran tonight, I’m glad that the season is over,” said Newman, who finished 21st. “Despite our run tonight, I’m very, very grateful for the opportunity that Roger [Penske] has given me over the last several years.” Mears finished eighth and Sorenson 31st.

Winless: Former Cup champions Jeff Gordon and Matt Kenseth both ended the season winless. For four-time champ Gordon, it was the first time since 1993, his rookie year, that he has not won. Kenseth’s last victory came here a year ago. “We need to be better,” said Gordon, who finished fourth Sunday. “There are just moments of greatness. We just can’t ever pull it all together. That’s where we know we’ve got to get better and that’s what we’re focusing on in the offseason.” Kenseth ended the season with a disappointing 25th-place finish after leading several times in the race.

Top rookie: Regan Smith wrapped up the Raybestos Rookie of the Year title Sunday with a quiet 34th-place finish.

Associated Press