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 Reid Spencer
JOLIET, Ill. -- Tony Stewart answered the big question Thursday afternoon at Chicagoland Speedway, but at the same time, he ensured that the slow unveiling of his future plans will continue for at least a few more weeks.
Having made a deal Stewart described as a merger with Haas CNC Racing, the two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion has acquired 50-percent interest in what will be called Stewart-Haas Motorsports next year. Beginning in 2009, Stewart will drive one of the cars for what will remain a two-car team.
Still unanswered after the press conference, at which Stewart appeared with Haas CNC general manager Joe Custer, is the question of sponsorship. Office Depot, currently the primary sponsor of Carl Edwards' No. 99 Roush Fenway Racing Ford, reportedly will move to Stewart-Haas Racing for the 2009 season. Stewart's current sponsor, Home Depot, will remain with the team Stewart is leaving, Joe Gibbs Racing.
Stewart announces formation of Stewart-Haas Racing....
By JENNA FRYER
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — After 10 years and two championships, Tony Stewart appears set to end his relationship with Joe Gibbs Racing to pursue an opportunity to buy his own NASCAR team.
Stewart's contract with JGR runs through 2009, but the team was expected to announce Wednesday that it will release him from his contract at the end of the season. Team owner Joe Gibbs has been trying to sign Stewart to an extension for almost a year, but the popular driver was slow to commit and eventually decided to explore free agency.
Numerous options were presented to Stewart, including buying the fledgling two-car team of Haas-CNC Racing and driving for other organizations. It gave Stewart options Gibbs couldn't match, and likely forced the team to grant him his release despite an initial unwillingness to do so.
Mike Arning, a spokesman for Stewart, said an announcement concerning Stewart's future would be made Wednesday. ESPN.com reported late Tuesday night he would be released from his contract.
Tony Stewart set to be released from JGR....
By David Newton
ESPN.com
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Tony Stewart has a few obstacles left before he officially can become a Sprint Cup team owner, but sponsorship isn't one of them.
The two-time Cup champion has reached an agreement that would make Office Depot a primary sponsor on his car if he finalizes a deal with Haas CNC Racing, a source close to the negotiations said on Thursday.
Sources said an announcement could be made as early as the weekend of the July 27 race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, which is located about an hour from Stewart's hometown of Columbus.
But before anything can happen Stewart would have to be released from the final year of his contact with Joe Gibbs Racing. JGR president J.D. Gibbs said on Friday at Daytona International Speedway that he remained in negotiations to extend Stewart's deal past 2009.
Source: Stewart secures sponsor for potential Cup team....
