Updated

Ryan Newman says he does not believe Tony Stewart deceived him when he was released from Stewart-Haas Racing.

Stewart told Newman in July he was not being retained for 2014 because SHR did not have room for four drivers once Kevin Harvick joined the organization. A little over a month later, Kurt Busch was offered a contract to join the team and furious fans accused Stewart of lying to his longtime friend.

But it was SHR co-owner Gene Haas who did the deal with Busch without Stewart's knowledge, and Stewart has been bothered by the notion that he was not truthful to Newman.

Newman says he has no problem with Stewart and understands exactly what happened at SHR. He says he'll be able to announce his own 2014 plans soon.