By Jim Peltz, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
Tony Stewart on Friday picked Daytona 500 winner Ryan Newman to drive the second car of the new NASCAR Sprint Cup team that Stewart will co-own next season.
Newman, who currently drives the No. 12 Dodge for Penske Racing, already had announced plans to leave Penske after this year and was the odds-on favorite to join Stewart. Both are Indiana natives and cut their teeth driving USAC midget cars before eventually moving to stock-car racing.
Stewart, 37, is a two-time Cup champion with 32 wins on NASCAR's premier circuit. Newman, 30, has 13 series victories.
"The thing that impressed me the most about Ryan was he asked all the right questions," Stewart told a news conference at Michigan International Speedway, site of Sunday's NASCAR race.
"From day one, the questions . . . were all about how are we going to win races, how are we going to win championships, how are we going to get the right people in place to do the right jobs?" he said.
NASCAR driver Ryan Newman joining Tony Stewart's team....
By JENNA FRYER
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — If Ryan Newman is indeed in line to join Tony Stewart's new team next season, neither driver is saying.
Stewart said Tuesday he's still trying to fill the two-car lineup at Stewart-Haas Racing, while Newman joked the only new offer he's received was to drive for one of Stewart's sprint car teams.
All kidding aside, Newman is believed to be the top candidate to drive for Stewart next year. The Daytona 500 winner announced last week he'll leave Penske Racing at the end of the season, a decision that makes him the top current free agent.
Newman, Stewart play coy on potential partnership....
By Motorsport.com staff writers
Ryan Newman visited the media at Chicagoland Speedway last Saturday, July 12, before he, along with the other 42 racers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, ran the first race under the lights on the Joliet, Ill. oval. After is comments, it appeared that indeed, the handwriting was on the wall and Newman would leaving Penske Racing.
His comments came two days after Tony Stewart confirmed the formation of Stewart-Haas Racing. The Joe Gibbs Racing long-time star and two-time Cup champion will be back in a Chevrolet next year as a driver and team co-owner. One of the drivers showing up in the rumor mill was Stewart's friend and rival, Newman.
Newman leaves Penske, looks for new opportunity....
