You could hardly blame Johnson and Knaus if they're at least a little annoyed that Stewart is a real threat to unseat them in their bid for a record four straight Cup championships. Nor can Jeff Gordon be totally happy that Stewart may jeopardise his chances for a fifth title in a career that may end prematurely if Gordon's back troubles can't be fixed.

Team owner Rick Hendrick clearly enjoys Stewart's success. At the end of the season-opening Daytona 500, those scanning Stewart's radio frequency heard Hendrick's voice congratulating the two-time champion on his eighth-place finish. When Stewart won the All-Star Race in May, one of his first well-wishers was Hendrick.

Stewart is the consummate racer, and you can't blame Hendrick for valuing the relationship, which helps the bottom line in a tough economy and enhances the prestige of the both organisations. But is the relationship with Stewart worth potential dissension within the Hendrick ranks?

“Under the right circumstances, it can be a great relationship because we can get more from them, they can utilise our resources better, and they can continue to stay a great customer,” Gordon said last year after the Stewart-Haas deal was announced. “When they start being competitive with us, that's when we have to think about where they stand.”

And if they start winning too many races?

“They can win races - as long as we're not finishing second to 'em,” Gordon said. “Then we've got to renegotiate.”

Gordon's reference is pointed, and it's a history lesson for Stewart. Back in 1992, a start-up operation called Joe Gibbs Racing leased engines from Hendrick Motorsports. The death knell for that vendor/customer relationship came in 1995 when Bobby Labonte won three races for Gibbs (once at Charlotte and twice at Michigan).

Hendrick drivers finished second in all three races, and Gibbs soon found himself in the position of having to start his own engine programme.

For now, Stewart can enjoy his success.

“It's been a honeymoon to this point,” he said. “We haven't had to go through the lows yet. ... We will get a dose of reality at some point in this equation. Every race team does. It's been a honeymoon where I don't have to worry about giving half back right now, so I'm going to enjoy it as long as we can.”

For Stewart's sake, however, it might be beneficial to hit a few speed bumps sooner rather than later. Otherwise, the honeymoon might well become the best, brief part of the marriage.

by Reid Spencer/Sporting News