We’ve got him Stewart fans!

Friday at Michigan International Speedway Ryan Newman will make it official that he will be joining Stewart-Haas racing next 2009 season.

The rumors had been running for months that Newman was the man to join the newly formed race team, but there had been no official announcements…at least not until this Friday morning at 10:30 AM.

NASCAR.com reports:

“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.”

It will obviously not be all roses when the 2009 season approaches for Newman. He will be driving the #4 car which is out of the top 35 in owners points.

Stewart automatically gets into the races with his #14 car because he is a past series champ.

On this day..

• Fans Finally Warming Up To Kyle Busch - 2008
• AJ Allmendinger’s Uncertain Future - 2008