Oct. 9 (Bloomberg) -- The U.S. Army is joining Ryan Newman next year, switching its Nascar Sprint Cup Series sponsorship to newly formed Stewart-Haas Racing from Dale Earnhardt Inc.
The Army's star logo will appear on Newman's No. 39 Chevrolet Impala for 23 races in 2009, team co-owner Tony Stewart said at a news conference at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte, North Carolina. Terms of the year-to-year contract won't be announced because teams are private companies that don't disclose financial information.
The Army's schedule will include 22 points-paying races and the exhibition All-Star Race, Stewart said. A crew chief for Newman and sponsor for the remaining 14 races will be announced in the next few weeks, he said.
The Air Force, Navy and National Guard have used Nascar racing to attract recruits and as a morale booster for members in the field. The Army contracts for sponsorships a year at a time over as much as a six-year term, Major General Montague Winfield said.
Dale Earnhardt Inc. hasn't announced a replacement sponsor for its No. 8 car, which had been driven by Mark Martin and Aric Almirola. Martin will leave the team for Hendrick Motorsports next season.
Stewart will leave Joe Gibbs Racing at the end of this season after receiving a 50 percent stake in the two-car team founded by jailed machine-tool maker Gene Haas. He will drive the No. 14 car and hired Newman, this year's Daytona 500 champion, from Penske Racing to drive the second car.
To contact the reporter on this story: Gene Laverty in Charlotte, North Carolina, at glaverty@bloomberg.net.
Last Updated: October 9, 2008 14:16 EDT
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