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Tony Stewart is among those being looked upon as a potential dark horse to win the Daytona 500.

But, don't forget, Stewart and Newman have chassis, motors and technical know-how from Hendrick Motorsports, the most successful organization in the business for the last 14 years, including the last three Sprint Cup championships (all by Jimmie Johnson) and eight titles overall since 1995.

In essence, SHR is just an extension of the Hendrick brand — and potentially the success, as well.

"Obviously, that was part of why we did what we did," Stewart said. "At the same time, it's the Stewart Haas people that are working on it and making decisions through practice and in the race. But we rely heavily on what those guys (at Hendrick) are doing, too."

When it comes to answering to someone if he makes a mistake and screws up, Stewart only has to look in the mirror to vent. At the same time, the process of building SHR has been one that has been both a character-builder and a learning experience.

"When you haven't been a part of building a program like this, every day is a learning process and just being there to see it happen every day, to see it grow, that's the thing that makes you proud," Stewart said.

Still, Stewart the team owner doesn't have his priorities skewed when it comes to dealing with Stewart the race car driver.

"I can be an owner four days a week, but the other three days a week, I have to be a driver," Stewart said. "That's the way I want it and that's the only way it'll work."