Joe Gibbs praises Tony Stewart's courage and importance to NASCAR

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. – Joe Gibbs says he'd like to speak to Tony Stewart but is waiting until his former driver is out of seclusion to reach out to the three-time NASCAR champion.

Very few have had any contact with Stewart since his car struck and killed Kevin Ward Jr. in an Aug. 8 sprint car race.

Stewart drove for Gibbs from 1997 through 2008 and won a pair of championships with the organization. He left Joe Gibbs Racing at the end of 2008 when he was offered an ownership stake at Stewart-Haas Racing.

Gibbs said Tuesday he learned very early in his tenure that sprint car racing was Stewart's passion and the car owner had to accept Stewart's participation in other series.

He called Stewart "a racer's racer" and an important part of NASCAR.