ITS OFFICAL STEWART/HASS RACING in 2009

ESPN.com is reporting that #20 Cup driver Tony Stewart has been granted a release from the final year of his contact at Joe Gibbs Racing. It is reported that Stewart will make an announcement on Wednesday about his leaving Joe Gibbs Racing.

On Thursday at Chicagoland Speedway it is believed he will make a formal announcement on his move to HASS/CNC Racing, and that he will be a co-owner and driver, with the team being renamed to Stewart/Hass Racing in 2009.

ESPN reports that Stewart's deal will make him the highest paid driver ever in NASCAR. Is is thought that Tony Stewart will carry the #14, which was made famous in Indy Car by Stewart's hero AJ Foyt, the number is currently available in the Sprint Cup Series, but the number change is not confirmed yet.
Stewart will have a 50% stake in the organization, but what his out of pocket investment is was not reported
No sponsors have been announced yet, but talk is that Office Depot is involved. Driver Ryan Newman is said to be the lead candidate to drive Stewart Haas' second car, but no confirmation has been made yet.
The new Stewart Haas team will continue to receive chassis and engines from Hendrick Motorsports. No word yet on the fate of current HASS/CNC drivers, Scott Riggs and Johnny Sauter, they are ranked 36th and 44th in the NASCAR Cup Owner Standings.
Tony Stewart will be able to use his Champion Provisional for the first 5 races of 2009 if the current team standings do not improve to above the 35th place in Owner standings.

UPDATE: A formal announcement is expected on Thursday. Fans can watch the news conference live on NASCAR.COM at 2:30 p.m. ET