Jayski is reporting via Siruis Satellite Radio‘s Sirius Speedway that Tony Stewart is expected to announce at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in three weeks that he’s moving to Haas CNC next season. He still has one more season left on his contract with Joe Gibbs Racing, and would need to be released.
Joey Logano is expected to be the frontrunner for the No. 20.
Ryan Newman will move from Penske Racing’s No. 12 to drive the second Haas CNC car.
Office Depot and Old Spice are expected to sponsor Stewart’s car, with Jack Daniels moving from Clint Bowyer’s Richard Childress Racing No. 07 to Newman’s car.
Bowyer’s RCR machine will be sponsored by UPS, which currently sponsors Michael Waltrip Racing’s No. 44, currently driven by David Reutimann.
As Newman will vacate No. 12, Casey Mears and David Stremme are considering the two finalists for that seat. Mears, however, has been rumored to be going to RCR’s fourth car, sponsored by General Mills.
So, what do you think happens now if Stewart for some reason can’t get out of his contract early, but commits to Haas CNC for 2010. Does Newman still make the move to that team next year?
If Tony Stewart can’t get out of his contract, I think it locks Ryan Newman out of Haas CNC, actually.
The sponsorship deals seem to be contingent on Stewart being there. If he’s not, the sponsors might not come, hindering the performance of that team.
The team is very inconsistent and not in the top 35 in points, I don’t think. Would he leave one struggling team to go to another not guaranteed a starting spot? Probably not.
He has little incentive to go to a struggling team, hoping that when Stewart moves over things will get better.
But, it also depends on what teams are courting Newman. If Richard Childress Racing is an option, he may opt for that rather than the uncertainty of Haas CNC.
I have a feeling that Joe Gibbs Racing would love to get Joey Logano in the Sprint Cup series, so I don’t know why they wouldn’t let Stewart out of his contract.
If they don’t let him out, I could see Martin Truex Jr. finishing out his contract with Dale Earnhardt Inc. then moving over to Haas with Stewart in 2010.
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