4LT GS RoadsterHOMESTEAD, Fla. (AP) -- Tony Stewart and Darian Grubb celebrated in Victory Lane by hugging teammates, spraying champagne and hoisting a championship trophy.
It had to be a little awkward. After all, it probably was their final race together.
Grubb, Stewart's crew chief, said following the season finale Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway that he isn't sure if he'll be back with the championship-winning team.
Grubb said he was told after last month's race at Charlotte that he would not return to Stewart-Haas Racing in 2012, a strange split for a team that won five of the 10 races in the Chase for the championship.
"It was a little tough and strained, but it honestly probably made the guys rally around a little more, just because we all felt like we were a team beat and we wanted to prove that," Grubb said. "We just did it. Everybody went out there and kept doing their jobs, kept their heads up and didn't let it drag anybody down. We may have even gotten closer as a team after that."
There had been speculation about a breakup for months, ever since Stewart fired his competition director midway through the season.
SI.com
It had to be a little awkward. After all, it probably was their final race together.
Grubb, Stewart's crew chief, said following the season finale Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway that he isn't sure if he'll be back with the championship-winning team.
Grubb said he was told after last month's race at Charlotte that he would not return to Stewart-Haas Racing in 2012, a strange split for a team that won five of the 10 races in the Chase for the championship.
"It was a little tough and strained, but it honestly probably made the guys rally around a little more, just because we all felt like we were a team beat and we wanted to prove that," Grubb said. "We just did it. Everybody went out there and kept doing their jobs, kept their heads up and didn't let it drag anybody down. We may have even gotten closer as a team after that."
There had been speculation about a breakup for months, ever since Stewart fired his competition director midway through the season.
SI.com
