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NASCAR Sprint-Cup Series
CUP: Stewart To Announce Second Driver
Tony Stewart has scheduled a press conference Friday at Michigan, Ryan Newman is expected to be announced as Stewart’s driver...
Tom Jensen  |  Posted August 13, 2008   Harrisburg, N.C.
“I almost felt homesick for wanting to be back in Charlotte. And that’s the first time since I’ve started in this series that I can remember feeling that way.” - Tony Stewart (Photo: Courtesy of Toyota Motorsports)
Tony Stewart is expected to announce on Friday at Michigan that Ryan Newman will be the second driver for his new Stewart-Haas Racing team. (Photo Courtesy of Toyota Motorsports)


Tony Stewart has scheduled a press conference Friday at 10:30 a.m. at Michigan International Speedway to announce the driver of his No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet next season. At the press conference, Ryan Newman is expected to be announced as Stewart’s driver.

Newman, who will be a guest Sunday on NASCAR RaceDay, when he will be interviewed by SPEED’s Wendy Venturini, is leaving Penske Racing at the end of the season. The Purdue University graduate ran his first NASCAR Sprint Cup race with Penske in 2000 and has been with the team full-time since 2002.

Like team co-owner Stewart, Newman is an Indiana native and the two have been friends away from the track. “Tony’s a great competitor in many ways,” Newman said last month. “He’s tough, but respectful. He’s been a good friend on and off the race track. Specifically off, he’s done a lot to help me and guide me. In general he’s just a hard-nosed racer and have always appreciated him for that. Whether we argue on the race track or not, we’re two hard-nosed racers.”

During that interview, Newman also praised Stewart’s leadership skills as a team owner, citing the success Stewart has had campaigning open-wheel teams in USAC and the World of Outlaws. “I think Tony would be a good boss. He’s proven to be successful in his open-wheel career as far as ownership with the dirt (track) teams,” Newman said.

Despite scoring a stunning victory in the season-opening Daytona 500 with teammate Kurt Busch finishing on his rear bumper in second place, Newman has had a hugely disappointing season, as has the whole organization. Neither Newman nor Busch will qualify for the Chase for the Sprint Cup this season. It’s Newman’s third consecutive miss and Busch’s second in three years.

Newman grew so frustrated with his team’s performance that he openly wondering if Penske Racing was trying hard enough. Quoting one of team boss Penske’s favorite quotes, Newman said, “Effort equals results. If you’re not getting the results then, you know, you question the effort.”

Next year, Newman will join what will be a heavily reworked team, with Stewart as co-owner of what now is known as Haas-CNC Racing but next year will become Stewart-Haas Racing. Stewart will drive the team’s No. 14 Chevrolet Impala SS, with sponsorship from Office Depot and Old Spice.

Tom Jensen is the Senior NASCAR Editor for SPEEDtv.com, the former Executive Editor of NASCAR Scene and a contributing Editor for TruckSeries.com. He is the author of “Cheating: The Bad Things Good NASCAR Nextel Cup Racers Do In Pursuit of SPEED,” and has appeared on television and radio shows to discuss NASCAR racing. Jensen is the President of the National Motorsports Press Association. Jensen is the 1997 National Motorsports Press Association Writer of the Year and has won numerous national and state awards for news reporting, columns and feature writing. The Answer Man is back at SPEEDtv.com. Tom Jensen answers your questions during every race week and looks forward to hearing from you - please e-mail it to

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