When Tony Stewart first hinted that he might leave Joe Gibbs Racing for another team, the organization didn’t shift into panic mode but officials certainly had to be worried.

The hot-tempered, highly talented (and highly quotable) Stewart has been the bell cow of the organization for years, with championship credentials and a huge fan base.

If Stewart did leave, Joe Gibbs knew he had to be replaced by someone who would be a quick study in Cup competition.

Enter Joe Logano.

While he waited patiently to make his first NASCAR Nationwide Series start (you have to be at least 18 to compete in NASCAR’s top two series), Logano had already signed a developmental deal with JGR. It didn’t include Sprint Cup competition, but was designed to bring the youngster along slowly and give him a chance to learn the ropes at a deliberate pace.

Talk about being ahead of the curve.

Logano won his first Nationwide race in just his third start, and at the age of 18 years, 21 days, is the youngest winner in the history of the support series.

That sent JGR scrambling to renegotiate Logano’s deal, which now includes Cup options.

So will Logano be driving the 20 car next season? It doesn’t seem like such a far-fetched proposition anymore.

The latest rumor — and one that appears to have legs — is that Stewart is interested in becoming the point man for Hass CNC Racing. The deal would give Stewart CEO-type power with the team while keeping him in the driver’s seat as the main attraction with the organization.

And if you read between the lines it appears Gibbs isn’t quite as adamant about keeping Stewart as he was before Logano stormed out of the gate.

Certainly Gibbs would love to keep Stewart. Who wouldn’t?

But like any sport NASCAR has to deal with free agency, and now the main question seems to be whether Stewart will have to finish out his contract with JGR (which expires at the end of 2009) or will be given a release when the current campaign wraps up.

Stewart’s exit would leave a void, certainly, but Gibbs would still have Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin driving his Toyota Camrys. Bring in Logano, and suddenly this becomes the best “young” team in NASCAR Sprint Cup.

In the end this could be the best deal for both Stewart and Joe Gibbs Racing. Smoke is now at the age where he’s starting to think beyond the cockpit, and Haas CNC would provide on-the-job training as a future owner while still allowing Stewart to chase more championships.

And while Gibbs already has a champ in the making in Kyle Busch, the addition of Logano into the Cup field would give the team the most highly touted young gun since Jeff Gordon came onto the scene sporting a bowl cut and cheesy mustache.

With plenty of season left there will be more behind the scenes dealings, but as of now it looks as though Stewart’s stint in the Home Depot-sponsored 20 car could end come November.

If it happens it’ll be interesting to see how long it takes Logano to pick up the slack — and pick up his first checkered flag in NASCAR’s premiere series.