Tony Stewart And Ryan Newman Join Hands For 2009
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Aug 14, 2008
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The long-expected union of Indiana natives Tony Stewart and Ryan Newman as NASCAR teammates becomes official Friday.
Stewart, who last month completed a deal to take over half ownership of Haas CNC Racing, has scheduled a news conference Friday morning at Michigan International Speedway to announce the second driver for renamed Stewart-Haas Racing in the 2009 Sprint Cup season. Newman has been regarded as the leading candidate since July 15, when he and Penske Racing agreed to part ways after this season.
Newman, who is leaving Penske Racing at the end of this season, will use No. 4 in honor of the first number Stewart used as a child. Stewart is still working on multiple sponsor offers for that car.
The duo have a combined 45 victories and 53 poles. But most of Newman’s success came before this season.
“Tony’s a great competitor in a great many ways, because he’s tough, but he’s also respectful,” Newman said prior to the July 12 race at Chicagoland. “He’s been a good friend on and off the racetrack, specifically off. He’s done a lot to help me and guide me. He’s an Indiana boy, so I have a different respect for him because of that. But in general, he’s just a hard-nosed racer, and I’ve always appreciated him for that. Whether we argue on the racetrack or not, we’re two hard-nosed racers.”
