Newman to leave Penske at end of 2008 season

Ryan Newman has split with Penske Racing, and is free to sign with another NASCAR organization -- including the one now co-owned by his friend and fellow driver, Tony Stewart.

Roger Penske's team announced Monday that the driver of the No. 12 car would be released at the end of this season. Newman is in the final year of his contract, and has said repeatedly that he would consider leaving if performance did not improve. His Daytona 500 win is his lone race victory since late 2005, and he currently sits 16th in Sprint Cup points.


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"I appreciate Penske Racing and all they have done for me," Newman said in a statement released by the team, "but more importantly, I appreciate their friendship and what they have done for my career."

So what's next? Newman said Saturday at Chicagoland Speedway that he had three options on the table beyond Penske, one of them being the newly formed Stewart-Haas organization. Newman has been viewed as the lead candidate for Stewart's second car, but more established teams like Richard Childress Racing and Joe Gibbs Racing also currently have openings for next year.

Newman has 13 wins in 243 starts with 63 top-five finishes and 105 top-10s. Since his debut on Nov. 5, 2000, at Phoenix he also has 43 poles -- tops on the Sprint Cup tour -- despite not running his first full season until 2002. Penske is the only NASCAR home that Newman has ever known.

"We want to thank Ryan for his hard work and contributions to Penske Racing over the past nine years," Penske said in a statement. "We wish Ryan all the best for the future, and we'll continue to focus our efforts on making the Chase."

A message seeking further comment from Penske officials was not immediately returned. The team said the 2009 driver for the No. 12 car will be announced in the near future.