DARLINGTON, S.C. - Winston Cup champ Tony Stewart ended speculation about his future by agreeing Thursday to a five-year contract extension that will keep him with Joe Gibbs Racing through 2009.
"I'm happy to have all of this worked out," said Stewart, who races Sunday in the Southern 500. "Joe Gibbs and everyone associated with Joe Gibbs Racing have been very good to me in the seven years I've been here."
Stewart has had problems with his temper and finished his title season on probation after a series of off-track issues. But this has been a tranquil year for him even though he has just one victory and is 11th in points.
Stewart, 32, who had a year left on his contract, considered a move to Chip Ganassi's Dodge team and had been given a deadline of Aug. 22. The automaker also was involved in discussions.
"We gave him an offer," Ganassi said. "The deadline came and went, and a few days later he re-signed with Gibbs."
Gibbs also has been negotiating for an extension with Home Depot, Stewart's sponsor since his 1999 rookie season, and crew chief Greg Zipadelli.
The car owner re-signed Stewart's teammate, 2000 series champion Bobby Labonte, this season.
BUSCH GETS EARFUL: Kurt Busch's sponsor lectured him for his role in an argument that led Jimmy Spencer to punch him in the face, and Newell Rubbermaid plans a mentoring program to help its young driver with his behavior.
Company representatives met with car owner Jack Roush and Busch to express displeasure with the 25-year-old for his words and actions in his latest scrape with Spencer.
Eric Pinkham, Newell Rubbermaid's director of marketing, called Busch a phenomenal driver and said the company will continue to support the No.97 Ford.
Spencer punched Busch in the face Aug.17 after a race in Michigan. The two have a long feud, and bumped earlier on the track.
Spencer was suspended from last weekend's race at Bristol Motor Speedway, which Busch won, and was fined $25,000 and also placed on probation.
Busch was heartily booed Saturday at Bristol, and clearly drained by the reception he had received since the Spencer punch and the negative attention it had brought him.
Busch again apologized Thursday and vowed not to embarrass his sponsor again.
OFF TRAC: Team Sports Entertainment said this week that it has dropped efforts to develop the Team Racing Auto Circuit league, the Charlotte Observer reported.
The company said in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission this month that it needed to sell six teams and sufficient sponsorship packages by Sept. 30 to keep its plans moving forward, according to the Observer.
TRAC, which was to pit cities against each other in teams rather than just crown individual champions, planned to debut this year. Then late last year it pushed the start date back to May 2004. The company was down to two employees in recent weeks and says it will meet with creditors to determine whether the next step will be to declare bankruptcy.
CHIEF CHANGE: Thatsracin.com reported that Doug Richert, who has been Carl Edwards' crew chief in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck series, was named crew chief for Greg Biffle's Winston Cup team.
GIAFFONE RETURNS: ESPN.com reported that IRL IndyCar driver Felipe Giaffone, injured July 6 at Kansas Speedway, returned to Mo Nunn Racing for the first of two days of testing at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill.
