All speculation of who Ryan Newman will drive for after the 2008 season ended Friday at the Michigan International Speedway when the announcement was made that Newman will join Tony Stewart at Stewart- Haas Racing.

The two seem to be a good fit for teammates and an unlikely pair all at the same time.

"There are guys that are really good at give-and-take and there's guys that aren't," said Stewart after tangling with Newman at New Hampshire in 2006, "Ryan's one of those guys that's not good at the giving part. He's really good at taking."

"Kyle Busch, Brian Vickers, everybody I passed I didn't have any problems. But Ryan, when you race him the way he races you, he just decides to dump you," Stewart added at the time.

Stewart and Newman have apparantly put all of their differences aside and will work together to put Stewart- Haas Racing on the map in 2009.

It is no secret the two Cup stars both came from the open wheel ranks and have been friends for many years. Stewart spent some time at Michigan yesterday pointing out the reasons they will be able to work together in a harmonious atmosphere.

"Ryan likes to fish. I like to fish," he said. "We both raise baby deer. We have a lot of common interests. This is something that we'll have a lot of fun doing."

"The competition side will probably be rougher with us going fishing, anyway. The first time he gets me in a boat and gets me out about 50 feet and says, 'OK, we're fishing for paychecks today,' I'm swimming back."

Newman and Stewart laughed at the two time Cup chamions' statement.

Most drivers in the garage agreed the two are certaily a talented combo and time will tell if they will succeed together at the top level of the sport.

"These guys are talented drivers," Brian Vickers said. "They're unique personalities. But that doesn't mean they'll be successful. That group is going to need a strong leader to direct that team."

"This sport is about chemistry. It's got to be the whole picture. You can't just drop two drivers in and all of a sudden they're going to win races."

Kurt Busch, Newman's current teammate, said when you consider their personalities Newman and Stewart appear to be a good fit.

"Now will it fit from the racing side?" he said. "That's what time will tell."