The two drivers come from similar racing backgrounds but where Stewart has a very raw, aggressive talent, Newman is a thinker, and the combination of the two could make them unstoppable.

“It was a year ago at this time no of us knew what to expect and it was a big question mark on what was going to happen. After getting the first year under our belt was a lot more relaxation from my stand point,” Stewart said. “I am so extremely proud of the group that we have up here. The relationship that Darian (Grubb) and I have built over the last year, the relationship with Ryan and Tony Gibson and Bobby Hutchens. This group is a really tight knit group.”

In 2009, the team’s first year of operation together, they saw more success than most expected and that could certainly be because of the relationship between the two key players.

 “Well the first thing was his wife, I knew if I got him then I got Krissie,” Stewart joked, a clear-cut sign the two are close if they can crack jokes of that nature. “He’s just a great pavement driver and obviously his background in engineering, I mean, you know he’s a smart person who knows how to make good decisions and that’s what it takes at this level. You see a driver that’s got talent behind the wheel and understands his race car so it makes them a natural choice.”

Meanwhile, Newman had nothing but good things to say about his boss and teammate.

“I think both Tony (Stewart) and I have been very willing to expand upon it (their relationship) from a personal standpoint and a professional standpoint we spend a lot of time together,” Newman said. “He’s been a friend of mine for a long time in many different classes.”

The difference in the two men is apparent with every question they answer. One looks at things from one perspective and the other looks at things a very different way.

When asked a question about the concept of a spoiler being implemented to replace the rear-wing and how that would affect passing, Newman proceeded to give a very technical description of the scenario.

When he was done not even the very outspoken Stewart had anything left to say.

“He’s an engineer so I’m not going to be able to add much to that,” he said.

The combination of these two men and their different points of view can truly set them apart from the rest of the field this season and for many years to come.

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