Newman joining Stewart-Haas Racing in 2009

Autoracing Betting Lines

08/15/2008 - Brooklyn, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Tony Stewart has named Ryan Newman as the second driver of Stewart-Haas Racing. Newman, the 2008 Daytona 500 champion, will drive the No.4 Chevrolet for the team, starting next year.

The announcement was made Friday at Michigan International Speedway, the site of this weekend's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. Newman also made his stock car debut at Michigan in 2000 when he competed in an ARCA event.

"It's just a great opportunity," Newman said. "I think a lot of Tony from a personal standpoint as well as a driving standpoint. I've seen a success from an ownership standpoint with the USAC cars and the World of Outlaw cars."

Newman has signed a multi-year agreement with the team. Sponsorship and a crew chief for the No.4 car have yet to be announced.

Last month, Newman and Penske Racing announced they were parting ways at the end of the season. He has been with the Penske since 2000. Newman has 13 wins in 246 career starts, and received rookie of the year honors in NASCAR's top division in 2002. His 43 career poles rank him 10th in the all-time Cup pole winners list.

Since winning the Daytona 500 in February, Newman has posted just six top-10 finishes. He is currently 15th in the point standings. Newman had been widely rumored to be in the second seat for Stewart's new team since June.

"It's very important to Stewart-Haas Racing. Being able to announce that we've got Ryan on board is something that we've all been looking forward to since the day we first spoke with Ryan and (wife) Krissie about coming over here and joining the team," Stewart said. "We know what it's done for the organization once we announced that I was coming over. The flood of personnel that have come over and wanted to join the team since we made that announcement has been huge, and with the addition of Ryan coming on board now, I think is even going to make that list grow even larger."

Stewart will merge with Haas CNC Racing next year to serve as both driver and co-owner of the newly-formed Stewart-Haas Racing. The two-time Cup champion was granted a release from the final year of his contract with Joe Gibbs Racing, a move that will take effect at the conclusion of the 2008 season.

Stewart will drive the No.14 Chevrolet with Office Depot and Old Spice serving as co-primary sponsors. A crew chief for Stewart's team will be named at a later date.

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Pacific-10 Conference odds

Teams that should be in: Stanford

Oregon and USC get their tickets punched after taking care of business this weekend. Yes, the Trojans' computer numbers aren't great, but there's no way the third-place team in this league is getting nixed. Grudgingly, I added Arizona after consultation with our Bracketologist. I don't know that Arizona will lose its last three (including a Pac-10 quarterfinal game), and even if the Cats do, I still can't see how they'd be left out, given the overall profile. That said, it bears watching, as three more L's would leave them at 18-12 (9-9) and on a 6-11 skid entering the Dance. It would be nice to see the Wildcats get at least one W in the Bay Area next week, as Cincinnati (albeit without Armein Kirkland and with a worse profile) was axed after a similar slide last season. I just couldn't rationalize having some of the other teams as locks and not having Arizona in that category -- there just aren't enough good teams behind the Cats to threaten their spot, it seems. Stanford has its fate in its own hands with the Arizona schools coming to the Farm to close out the regular season next weekend.

Should be in:

Stanford [17-10 (9-7), RPI: 40, SOS: 21] No shame in not getting a win in L.A., but that makes the home game against Arizona State a must-win ahead of what could be an intriguing meeting with Arizona should the Cats lose at Cal. Getting to 11 Pac-10 wins would make Selection Sunday much more comfortable, but 10's probably more than enough this season. The Cardinal have nonconference wins over Texas Tech and at Virginia to lean on, although they also lost badly to Air Force and Santa Clara at home.

Southeastern Conference odds
Work left to do: Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Mississippi State

It looks more and more possible that no one from the SEC West will make the NCAAs. How weird is that? Tennessee and Vandy move into the locks category after more good work this weekend. Kentucky stays there, although it would be smart for the Cats to handle Georgia at home Wednesday ahead of a trip to the Swamp. Could a disaster scenario (two more L's and a first-round SEC tourney exit) somehow dislodge the Cats despite their incredible computer numbers? Still unlikely, but not worth chancing it.

Work left to do:

Alabama [19-9 (6-8), RPI: 43, SOS: 47] The tough L at Tennessee was understandable, and even created some hope. Unfortunately, that hope was dashed by a home loss to Auburn, which leaves the Tide in some real trouble. There's still no signature win on the profile (no, Kentucky doesn't count), and the computer profile is weakening rapidly. The Tide conceivably could beat Ole Miss and win at Miss. State to get to 8-8 and clinch at least a share of the West crown, but that's probably not enough right now. The Tide will need to do some work in the SEC tourney.

Georgia [16-10 (8-6), RPI: 52, SOS: 23] This is the team with the best chance to make it from this section right now. The Bulldogs rebounded from a terrible performance at Ole Miss to beat down Miss. State. Now they are at Kentucky (king of the RPI 51-100 win) and home to Tennessee. That would be worth a lot of computer points to get both (which is doable), as both teams are in the top 11 in RPI. Finishing at least 9-7 is an absolute must, and I would feel much better about the Dawgs' chances if they got both to get to 10 SEC wins. They also beat Gonzaga, but lost to ACC bubblers Georgia Tech and Clemson.

Mississippi [18-10 (7-7), RPI: 63, SOS: 79] Like everyone else in this division, Ole Miss gacked up a chance to stake a claim, losing by double figures at South Carolina. Even 9-7 likely is not nearly enough with a nonconference profile devoid of anything notable.

Mississippi State [16-11 (7-7), RPI: 66, SOS: 37] With a chance to get in the mix, these Bulldogs were leashed by their Georgia counterparts. Could they get to 9-7? I guess -- although winning at Arkansas, then beating Alabama is no lock -- but would that mean all that much for a team with this overall profile? Probably not. There's nothing of note (on the good side) in the nonconference profile.

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