The worst secret in the NASCAR garage is one step closer to becoming reality.
Ryan Newman has reached a verbal agreement with Stewart-Haas Racing to drive the No. 4 Chevrolet starting next season.
Nothing has been signed and nothing is official, but a deal is close and a formal announcement is expected to take place in the next 4-5 weeks.
Among the details pending is a sponsor for Newman. Burger King is a likely candidate for at least partial sponsorship.
Newman, winner of this year’s season-opening Daytona 500, announced on July 14 that he and Penske Racing mutually agreed not to renew their deal and to part ways at the end of the year.
Newman, speaking through a Penske spokesperson, said he is still working on the 2009 plans and he has no timetable for finalizing anything at this point.
Stewart spokesman Mike Arning said talks continue with several drivers.
“Any verbal agreement with a particular driver is premature,” Arning said.
Newman will give Stewart-Haas a pair of Indiana-born drivers with a combined 45 victories and 53 poles.
Newman started the season with a victory in the Daytona 500, but the performance of his team since declined to the point he sought other options that could provide him a chance to win a championship.
At Stewart-Haas, Newman would be reunited with Matt Borland. Borland, now the competition director at Stewart-Haas, was Newman’s crew chief at Penske for 12 of his 13 Cup victories.
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