David Newton over at ESPN is reporting multiple whispers about Tony Stewart making the rounds of potential sponsors with an eye toward a Dale Earnhardt Jr. styled arrangement of twin primary sponsorship (names being bandied about are Old Spice and Office Depot), this all with a backdrop of his intent to buy Haas/CNC this year and drive there next year.  There's also talk of Stewart talking to Ryan Newman about becoming his teammate in this venture.  Interesting.

The elephant in the room is that Stewart is under contract to JGR through next year, so either an "I love you so I'm setting you free" arrangement or a buyout would be needed to let him do any of the aforementioned save actually buy Haas/CNC.  The initial public stance by all was this would not happen.  However, the ever-growing swell of no comment whenever the subject is broached anew indicates, at least to the more jaded and cynical side of things, the game is afoot.  And Stewart's feet are in the process of moving back to the bowtie brigade.

Should the deal go down as currently rumored, it does bring up all kinds of interesting possibilities.  Might Lucas Oil, which despite being based in California has a strong Indiana connection (witness their name gracing via sponsorship the house that Peyton built, otherwise known as the new stadium for my beloved Colts) decide this is the perfect opportunity to jump into NASCAR in the same fashion it has ingrained itself into the NHRA and other racing league by stepping up, signing a check, and smiling for the cameras at the sponsorship announcement press conference?  Given that Bass Pro Shops' deal with DEI runs through 2010 it would appear despite their relationship with Stewart on the dirt track side of things they're not an option, but since when have sponsors let such trivial details as signed contracts stop them from doing whatever they feel like?  Should the talk of an Old Spice/Office Depot joint sponsorship be true, how easy will this make my life come Christmastime while shopping for Mrs. Dude's presents since she is silly for Smoke but believes she looks far better in red than orange?  The mind reels almost at the same level my wallet will should the deal come to fruition.

This is NASCAR, so as always standard operational procedure applies; i.e. believe nothing until the press conference.  I'll keep floating my hypotheses about Stewart either buying Haas/CNC but going the Dale Earnhardt route of owning one team while driving for another by replacing Casey Mears in the #5 or going back to IRL until something official is announced.  And again, it's well within the scope of possibility that while Stewart may go ahead with the purchase he'll be held to his current contract despite Toyota having made it clear they would not be amused.  So who knows.  This we do know: the answer to all of the above will probably be known before other events in NASCAR transpire this year...

... such as a really good race.