Stewart out but ready to offer advice

0 Comments | USA TODAY, September, 2006 | by Seth Livingstone

Defending champion Tony Stewart is out of the Chase for the Nextel Cup, but that doesn't mean he can't be an important resource for rookie teammate Denny Hamlin during the final 10 races. "Tony really is kind of a mentor for (rookie driver) J.J. (Yeley) and Denny," Joe Gibbs Racing President J.D.

Gibbs said last week. "Denny feels free to ask him any questions, and it's come to the point where I think Tony will go over to Denny and say, 'What are you all doing? What works for you?'" Hamlin's crew chief, Mike Ford, already is running setups similar to Stewart's, which will come into play at the faster tracks such as Kansas Speedway, Talladega Superspeedway and Atlanta Motor Speedway. "It was a bittersweet night for (Joe Gibbs Racing) to get me in but Tony fall out," said...