Haas to trademark No. 14, likely for Stewart

Haas CNC Racing general manager Joe Custer has applied for his team to trademark the No. 14, which is expected to be the number next season for Tony Stewart, who will co-own and drive for Stewart-Haas Racing beginning in 2009.

A Stewart spokesman said that the "details" of Stewart's car will be announced Friday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The trademark application covers a variety of products -- everything from paper goods to luggage, knives, air fresheners, video featuring racing themes and several other items. The application was filed July 2, according in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office database (which can be accessed through its Web site).

Stewart would like the No. 14 presumably because that is the number that A.J. Foyt made famous in open-wheel racing.

NASCAR teams typically trademark a number in association with products to prevent non-licensed vendors from selling products with the number on them in order to make money off the driver's number.

Stewart-Haas Racing will absorb Haas CNC Racing at the end of the season. The trademark application just lists the applicant as "Haas Racing," with the Kannapolis address of the current Haas CNC Racing team listed.