Newman to join Stewart Haas for 2009 season

Ryan Newman's long-anticipated move to Tony Stewart's new race team will become reality at Michigan International Speedway, NASCAR.com has learned. The announcement is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. ET Friday.

Newman has been seen for some time as the leading candidate to fill the second seat at Stewart-Haas Racing, formed when the two-time NASCAR champion received half of the Haas CNC operation currently competing on the Sprint Cup tour. Stewart, in addition to becoming co-owner, will drive a No. 14 car backed by Office Depot and Old Spice. Newman will drive a No. 4, although the sponsorship is unclear.

Newman parted ways with Penske Racing, his NASCAR home since he first broke into the sport in 2000, on July 15. Although Newman had other options, the 30-year-old reigning Daytona 500 champion chose to ally with Stewart, also from his home state of Indiana.

"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."

Newman may have his work cut out for him next year, given that both of the Haas cars are currently outside the top 35 in owner points. If they stay there for the rest of the season, Newman would have to make the first five events of next season on speed. Stewart, as a past series champion, would have an automatic ticket in.

The No. 66 of Scott Riggs, which will become Stewart's No. 14 next year, stands 37th, 31 points out of the top 35. The No. 70, which has been piloted by several drivers this year and will become Newman's No. 4, is 43rd, a distant 526 points behind the cutoff.