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closeNewman gets another new number for '09
By Jim Utter
jutter@charlotteobserver.com
Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2008
Tony Stewart isn't afraid to change his mind.
Although it's been less than a week since Stewart introduced Ryan Newman as his teammate at Stewart-Haas Racing, Stewart made a surprise announcement on his "Tony Stewart Live" show on Sirius Satellite Radio Monday night that he is changing Newman's car number for next season.
At an announcement over the weekend at Michigan International Speedway, Stewart said Newman would drive the No. 4 Chevrolets next season. Stewart had already decided to drive the No. 14, the former car number of Stewart's hero in racing, A.J. Foyt.
On his show, Stewart said he picked his car number because it was special to him and he knew the No. 39 was special to Newman. Newman's first-ever USAC midget win came in the No. 39 car.
Newman was a guest on the show at the time and Stewart surprised him with the announcement, which included a musical drum roll countdown. Stewart also said if Morgan-McClure Motorsports decided it could return to the Sprint Cup Series next season, he wanted the Virginia-based team to be able to continue to use its No. 4. MMM has not run this season.