TALLADEGA, Ala. — Tony Stewart wasn’t very talkative Friday about his much-talked-about contract situation with Joe Gibbs Racing. That, however, didn’t stop the rest of the Talladega Superspeedway garage from commenting on the week’s biggest story.

Stewart shocked the NASCAR nation this week when he said he is considering leaving Gibbs, with whom he has achieved 32 Cup wins, two championships and more than $67 million in prize money. Rumors ran rampant that he had asked JGR for a release from his contract, which runs through the 2009 season.

Though Stewart refuted those rumors Thursday, he did acknowledge that he’s received several offers from other teams, including one, reportedly Haas CNC Racing, where he would become an owner. Though reporters followed him around Friday as teams practiced for Sunday’s Aaron’s 499, the driver was relatively quiet.

“It’s very humbling and I feel very honored to be in a position that we have that many organizations interested in me as a driver,” Stewart said.

Among those apparently interested is Richard Childress, who has plans to expand his organization to four full-time teams.

“He’s got another year on his contract, and sure, after he finishes out his contract or becomes able, I’d talk to him and see what he has in mind,” Childress said. “There are a number of good drivers who might be available.”

If Stewart were able to get a release from Gibbs after this season, he would join a top group of free-agent drivers who could hit the market, including Carl Edwards, Ryan Newman, Greg Biffle, Bobby Labonte and Martin Truex.

One of Childress’ current drivers, points leader Jeff Burton, could hardly contain his excitement when told of his owner’s comments on Stewart.

“It’s pretty interesting to me. He’d be an awesome teammate,” Burton said. “He’d be an incredible teammate. He would bring talent; he’d bring enthusiasm. Any team in here would love to have Tony Stewart. When you have a driver of that caliber raise his hand and say, ‘I’m willing to look at other opportunities,’ it’s very interesting because people with that talent don’t grow on trees. He would be an extremely hot commodity in the garage.”

One person who clearly wasn’t enjoying the subject was longtime crew chief Greg Zipadelli, who has been with Stewart since the driver joined JGR 10 years ago.

“We’ve all had opportunities to go do things,” Zipadelli said Friday. “I’ve had them; he’s had them. He obviously has another one that sounds like a great opportunity for himself and his future. Much more than that, I’m not getting caught up in that stuff right now. We’ve got a great team and a great opportunity to run good here this weekend and try to win a race. And that’s what we’re here for.”

Joe Gibbs Racing president J.D. Gibbs reiterated in a radio interview Thursday night that his organization has no intention of letting Stewart drive anywhere else next season.

“We talked to our team guys today, and I think Tony and our team are on the same page,” Gibbs said. “Our goal here is over the next couple of years — ’08, ’09, that’s when Tony is signed to race with us — we’re going to go full bore and hopefully win a bunch of races and championships together. “

Stewart, 37, has said during the past couple of years that his next contract would be his last. He was not pleased with JGR’s decision to leave General Motors for Toyota following last season. GM heavily sponsors Stewart’s myriad of race teams. He’s also made it no secret lately that ownership is where he wants to go in Cup racing.

At least one driver said Friday that Stewart would be one of the sport’s better owners.

“I think that Tony has always been really good at making smart business decisions, and he’s sort of always on the front lines of what’s going on and what he needs to do and what’s good for him,” Dale Earnhardt Jr. said. “He’s always trying to put himself in a better position constantly, in the business sense of the job and the sport.

“It’s pretty admirable, I guess, how involved in it he is and how he’s constantly trying to discover a better position for himself and a better way for him to succeed in his future. I feel like he would be successful if he chose to go that way. I think he would be a fun owner. I’m sure he’s going to continue to race, but at one point he won’t, and having been a driver will (help). He would be a fun owner. He would be a great guy to work for, I’m sure.”