NASCAR: Tony Stewart To Run AJ's #14 In 2009

(from autosport)

Tony Stewart has unveiled the numbers and sponsorship package for his Stewart Haas Racing team.

In an event at Indianapolis earlier today, the former series champion revealed that the No.4 and No.14 Chevrolets will be sponsored by Office Depot and Old Spice in 2009.

Team co-owner and driver Stewart has chosen the No.14, which was raced by his all-time racing hero AJ Foyt. The team's second entry will run the No.4 but no announcement has been made about who the driver will be for that car.

"We knew we were going to have the No.4 and the No.14," Stewart said. "No.4 was my first ever go-kart number that I started with. Unless you don't follow auto racing at least once a year, I think everybody knows AJ Foyt has always been my all-time hero.

"It was about a five-minute tug-of-war between whether I wanted my first number back or AJ's number. It was pretty easy to decide that I wanted my all-time hero's."

Four-time Indy 500 winner Foyt, who also won the Daytona 500 and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, said there could not be any better driver than Stewart to compete with the number he used for most of his open-wheel career.

"Tony and I have been friends for a long time," said Foyt. "I think I first met him when he was running Midgets. It was quite a while ago so I don't actually remember where and when.

"A few times he drove the Silver Crown car I had with George Snider back in the mid-90s and I gave him his first test in an Indy car in Phoenix [in 1995] and he ran pretty quick as I recall.

"In addition to being quick, he's always told it how it is. I don't think there's anyone better to carry the No.14."

Former Roush Fenway sponsor Office Depot will back next year in the Sprint Cup sponsoring Stewart's No.14 car, while Old Spice, which has been a long-time sponsor of the two-time Cup champion, will also be a sponsor on his car.

"To be able to go from Chicago to a couple of weeks later and do what we're doing today, announcing Office Depot, Old Spice and Chevrolet are going to be with us next year, it is something we're all excited about," Stewart said.

"Obviously Old Spice has been with us for 10 years. Office Deport is new to us, but we already feel like they are family within the short amount of time we have worked together with them. We are really excited."

"We already have been joking around that we have a can that we have to put $10 in every time someone says Home Depot instead of Office Depot. We are trying to figure out who will fill it up first."

The two companies have split the sponsorship of the No.14 red and black car of Stewart with Office Depot taking 60 percent and Old Spice the remaining 40 percent.

 

I don't have a NASCAR tatoo Michael, do you? I don't have any tatoos. I am not sure I understand the reason for tatoos. I do like saying the word, "tatoooooooooo". Its kind of like asking a woman in a foreign language something erotic. "Hello there, ta toooooo?"

 

I get it, that little short guy. Really obnoxious short guy.

 

I prefer the porch. 'Cept we don't have those in south Florida.