Office Depot and Old Spice have joined Stewart's efforts and will serve as dual primary sponsors. Stewart has chosen the No. 4 in honor of his hero, AJ Foyt. This team will receive Hendrick Motorsports equipment so look for them to at least contend for a Chase spot.
No. 20, Joey Lagano: With Tony Stewart going to drive for his own team, it left this top notch car without a driver and teen driving sensation Joey Lagano promptly filled it.
Lagano will pilot the Home Depot Toyota and hopes to be Rookie of the Year. Lagano has struggled in his first two Sprint Cup Series races and with limited Nationwide experience, although he won in his third career start, look for him to struggle as he gets his career going but in time, he will be a great driver.
No. 24, Jeff Gordon: No changes here as to driver and sponsor but he will have a different paint scheme, something rare for that No. 24 car. Rumors have the paint scheme having a black base.
No. 31, Jeff Burton: No big changes to this team except a change in sponsor. Caterpillar has signed on to be the primary sponsor of the No. 31 Richard Childress car in 2009.
No. 33, Clint Bowyer: Clint Bowyer is a Richard Childress Racing driver for the 2008 season and will be again in 2009, just in a different car. He will be sponsored by General Mills/Cheerios. Richard Childress is weighing in on the idea of merging or buying a car to get the car in the top 35. Look for Clint to run well next year as log as he can qualify—he is currently sitting sixth in points and finished out last year third in points.
No. 39, Ryan Newman: The 2008 Daytona 500 Champion will take to Daytona in Feburary in a Stewart/Haas Chevrolet. No word on how long Newman has signed but it is a multi-year contract. Rumored sponsors have been Burger King and the U.S. Army. Newman chose the No. 39 because his first USAC midget victory came in that number.
No. 41, AJ Allmendinger?: It is still a very fresh rumor but it seems most likely Allmendinger will wind up in Ganassi's No. 41 Dodge.
No. 44, Michael McDowell? Josh Wise?: No word on the driver for this car next year and no sponsor has even been rumored to this car. Reutimann will not return to this car next year as he will be in the #00 car again.
No. 45, Kyle Petty? Chad McCumbee?: As of now, it looks as if Chad McCumbee will drive the No. 45 full time as Kyle Petty makes the move to the tv booth but Kyle has said in the recent past that he wants to run a few more years.
No. 47? No. 59?, Marcos Ambrose: Marcos Ambrose will run for Rookie of the Year in 2009 with Kingsford and Little Debbie's being the sponsors. Marcos has run very well in the Nationwide Series with a win at Watkins Glen.
No. 84, Scott Speed: Along with the recent announcement that AJ Allmendinger will not return to the car in 2009 came an announcement that Scott Speed will run for Rookie of the Year in it in 2009.
No. 96, Brad Coleman: Looks like Coleman will drive the #96 DLP car full time in 2009 unless the deal falls through or he finds another car. JJ Yeley was let go earlier in the year and now Coleman is sharing the car with Ken Schrader and Joey Lagano.
No. 99, Carl Edwards: No big changes but Aflac has signed on to be the primary sponsor in 2009 replacing Office Depot which went with Tony Stewart on his move to ownership.
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