Toyota support JGR on Stewart exit

Toyota Racing Development President and General Manager Lee White thanked Stewart for his contribution to their programme this year and said they would continue to support him in their aim to have all three JGR cars in this year's Chase for the Sprint Cup.

"We fully support the decision of Joe Gibbs and J.D. Gibbs regarding this arrangement between Joe Gibbs Racing and Tony Stewart," White said.

"We thank Tony and wish him the best in his future endeavors. He has been synonymous with Joe Gibbs Racing and has enjoyed a tremendous amount of success with the team. In our first year together, Tony has been a valuable asset to the Toyota program.

"We will continue to work diligently to get Tony and his Camry to 'Victory Lane' as often as possible in the Sprint Cup Series during the remainder of this season. Our hope is that he will be able to qualify for the 'Chase' and contend for another championship."

'Smoke' has driven for General Motors most of his career and has close links with them through his own teams competing in USAC midgets and in the World of Outlaws.

Returning to drive for Chevrolet is said to be one of the reasons behind his departure from Joe Gibbs Racing.

"The good thing is I'm still part of the Chevrolet family," he said a couple of weeks ago at Richmond. "I'm still with Chevrolet with the World of Outlaws teams and my USAC teams. So just because I'm not going to be there with the Cup side doesn't mean that I'm not still part of that family."

Stewart has yet to win a Cup race driving a Toyota, although he has won five out of seven Nationwide Series races he has entered this year driving under the Japanese manufacturer's banner.