CHARLOTTE — The day many NASCAR fans have dreaded is set to arrive Wednesday.

Two people familiar with Tony Stewart’s plans confirmed to USA TODAY Sports the three-time champion’s intentions to step away from NASCAR after the 2016 season, with Clint Bowyer likely to take over the seat of the No. 14 Chevrolet beginning in 2017. The people requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak on the record.

The official announcement is set for 1 p.m., Eastern time Wednesday in Kannapolis, N.C. after Motorsport.com and ESPN said they confirmed the news Sunday evening.

For months, the NASCAR garage had been buzzing about Stewart’s possible departure from the Sprint Cup Series following a season-long retirement tour like the one currently taking place with Jeff Gordon.

SHR did not respond to a request for comment on the decision, but spokesman Mike Arning told USA TODAY Sports on Aug. 19 there was nothing official to announce yet.

USA TODAY

Clint Bowyer in driver’s seat despite MWR demise

“Our focus is on finishing 2015 strong and getting as many of our drivers into the Chase as possible,” he said in August when asked about the possibility of Bowyer replacing Stewart.

The last few years have been filled with turmoil for Stewart, a three-time champion who was once a regular winner on the Sprint Cup Series circuit. The 44-year-old future Hall of Famer won 47 Cup races from 1999-2012, but has just one win in the past three seasons.

A crash while racing sprint cars on an Iowa dirt track cost Stewart the final 15 races of 2013 — with a severe leg injury which came with a lengthy recovery process — and he was then involved in a sprint car incident that killed Kevin Ward Jr. in New York last year.

After returning to NASCAR following a three-race absence to mourn Ward’s death, Stewart said at the time he had no plans to quit racing.

“This is what I’ve done all my life,” he said then. “This is what I’ve done for 36 years, and I wouldn’t change anything about it. I love driving race cars. I think it might change right now as far as how much of it and what I do, but there was never a thought in my head about stopping. That would take the life out of me.”

The Ward tragedy changed Stewart forever, he told reporters earlier this year, and the aftermath continues to play out in the civil courts (the Ward family has sued Stewart for wrongful death).

USA TODAY

Tested by turmoil, Tony Stewart finds sanctuary where he can

Stewart is the co-owner of Stewart-Haas Racing, which currently has two drivers in the Chase for the Sprint Cup — Kevin Harvick and Kurt Busch. Stewart, 25th in points, missed the playoff this year along with teammate Danica Patrick.

Bowyer, recently released from Michael Waltrip Racing after the team announced it will shut down at the end of this season, will likely move to HScott Motorsports for one year and then move to SHR after Stewart retire. The HScott portion of the deal could be announced as early as this weekend at Dover International Speedway.

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PHOTOS: Behind the wheel with Tony Stewart

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Tony Stewart, born May 20, 1971, in Columbus, Ind., is a three time NASCAR Cup Series champion (2002, '05, 11), the 1997 Indy Racing League (IndyCar) champion and the 1995 USAC Triple Crown champion.
Tony Stewart poses with a Texas Motor Speedway rifle after winning the pole for the 2014 Duck Commander 500 in Fort Worth.
Tony Stewart signs autographs for fans during practice for the 2014 Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway.
Stewart sits in his car in the garage area at Pocono International Raceway while talking with crew chief, Greg Zipadelli. The photo, taken in 1999, is from Stewart's rookie season in the Cup series.
Stewart (20) passes Jeff Gordon (24) en route to winning his first Winston Cup Series race at the Richmond International Raceway in Richmond, Va., Saturday, Sept. 11, 1999.
Tony Stewart (20) flies through the air after an accident during the 2001 Daytona 500. Despite winning three Cup championships and racking up 47 career wins, Stewart has yet to win a Daytona 500.
Stewart drives through the first turn at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during the final practice session before the 85th running of the Indianapolis 500 in 2001. Stewart occasionally raced in the IZOD IndyCar series from 1996-2001.
Stewart signs a car for Philip Simons in May 2003.
Stewart and Dale Earnhardt Jr. talk after the first session of practice for the Bud Shootout in 2004.
Stewart celebrates his first Brickyard win by climbing the fence at the finish line with his team on Aug. 7, 2005.
Tony Stewart, left, shown with Ryan Newman in November 2005. Stewart would later become Newman's boss when he ran his own team.
Stewart (right) celebrates atop the flag stand near fans at Daytona International Speedway after winning the 2005 Pepsi 400. According to National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA), Stewart is one of the Top 10 most popular drivers in NASCAR.
Stewart shows his frustration after a last lap crash during the 2007 Aaron's 499 at Talladega Superspeedway.
Stewart, an Indiana native, kisses the bricks after winning the 14th running of the Allstate 400 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in July of 2007.
After driving for Joe Gibbs Racing for 10 years, Stewart became a team owner and driver with Stewart Hass Racing in 2009.
Stewart, driver of the No. 14 Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet, celebrates in after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Ford 400 and the 2011 Series Championship at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 20, 2011 in Homestead, Florida. The title was Stewart's third Cup series championship, having previously won in 2002 and 2005.
Stewart celebrates his third Sprint Cup title with his mother Pam Boas at Homestead-Miami Speedway in November 2011.
Danica Patrick (left) talks with Stewart during practice for the 2012 Daytona 500. 2012 was Patrick's first season as a driver for Stewart's team, Stewart-Haas Racing,
Stewart and his crew push his midget car to the track before he competes in the 2012 Race of Champions at the Chili Bowl Midget Nationals in Tulsa, Okla.
President Barack Obama (right) talks with NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Tony Stewart during an event to honor him and the other 2011 Sprint Cup Series drivers at the White House on Tuesday, April 17, 2012.
Stewart drives the No. 14 Chevrolet during the Feed the Children Prelude to the Dream at Eldora Speedway on June 6, 2012 in Rossburg, Ohio. Stewart bought Eldora Speedway in 2004.
Stewart throws his helmet at Matt Kenseth's car after the two collided racing for the lead on lap 333 during the 2012 Irwin Tools Night Race in Bristol, Tenn.
The team owner says of balancing the demands on his time: "I've got more stuff asked of me every week. But I drive a race car for a living. … Life's good."
Tony Stewart celebrates winning the 2011 Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway.
Stewart endures yet another photo shoot, this one in his Nationwide Series suit. "Nice, nice!" shouts a director. "You're a pro. That was bad ass."
Jeff Burton, left, says he's come to like and respect Tony Stewart, right, quite a bit over the years.
Tony Stewart, above, stars in a Mobil 1 commercial with Formula One driver Jenson Button.
Tony Stewart, not visible, is checked over by medics after being involved in a four-car wreck at Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa.
Mark Martin, left, talks to Tony Stewart during the drivers' introductory lap before the Sprint Cup race in Fontana, Calif., in 2013.
Three-time Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart plans to drive over 100 races at smaller venues this season.
Stewart Haas Racing expanded to three cars in 2013, adding Danica Patrick as a full-time driver in Sprint Cup.
Stewart won the Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway in July 2005 for the first of four wins in the summer race there.
There always is a media crush around the three-time Sprint Cup champion, shown here at Daytona Speedweeks in 2010.
Tony Stewart gets wheeled into a press conference on Sept. 3. Stewart fractured his tibia and fibula in a sprint car crash in Iowa on Aug. 5, 2013.
Tony Stewart told reporters at a Sept. 3 newsconference, "I've damn near passed out at every doctor visit I've been to so far," because there was so much skin damage.
  • Tony Stewart, born May 20, 1971, in Columbus, Ind., is a three time NASCAR Cup Series champion (2002, '05, 11), the 1997 Indy Racing League (IndyCar) champion and the 1995 USAC Triple Crown champion.
  • Tony Stewart poses with a Texas Motor Speedway rifle after winning the pole for the 2014 Duck Commander 500 in Fort Worth.
  • Tony Stewart signs autographs for fans during practice for the 2014 Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway.
  • Stewart sits in his car in the garage area at Pocono International Raceway while talking with crew chief, Greg Zipadelli. The photo, taken in 1999, is from Stewart's rookie season in the Cup series.
  • Stewart (20) passes Jeff Gordon (24) en route to winning his first Winston Cup Series race at the Richmond International Raceway in Richmond, Va., Saturday, Sept. 11, 1999.
  • Tony Stewart (20) flies through the air after an accident during the 2001 Daytona 500. Despite winning three Cup championships and racking up 47 career wins, Stewart has yet to win a Daytona 500.
  • Stewart drives through the first turn at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during the final practice session before the 85th running of the Indianapolis 500 in 2001. Stewart occasionally raced in the IZOD IndyCar series from 1996-2001.
  • Stewart signs a car for Philip Simons in May 2003.
  • Stewart and Dale Earnhardt Jr. talk after the first session of practice for the Bud Shootout in 2004.
  • Stewart celebrates his first Brickyard win by climbing the fence at the finish line with his team on Aug. 7, 2005.
  • Tony Stewart, left, shown with Ryan Newman in November 2005. Stewart would later become Newman's boss when he ran his own team.
  • Stewart (right) celebrates atop the flag stand near fans at Daytona International Speedway after winning the 2005 Pepsi 400. According to National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA), Stewart is one of the Top 10 most popular drivers in NASCAR.
  • Stewart shows his frustration after a last lap crash during the 2007 Aaron's 499 at Talladega Superspeedway.
  • Stewart, an Indiana native, kisses the bricks after winning the 14th running of the Allstate 400 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in July of 2007.
  • After driving for Joe Gibbs Racing for 10 years, Stewart became a team owner and driver with Stewart Hass Racing in 2009.
  • Stewart, driver of the No. 14 Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet, celebrates in after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Ford 400 and the 2011 Series Championship at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 20, 2011 in Homestead, Florida. The title was Stewart's third Cup series championship, having previously won in 2002 and 2005.
  • Stewart celebrates his third Sprint Cup title with his mother Pam Boas at Homestead-Miami Speedway in November 2011.
  • Danica Patrick (left) talks with Stewart during practice for the 2012 Daytona 500. 2012 was Patrick's first season as a driver for Stewart's team, Stewart-Haas Racing,
  • Stewart and his crew push his midget car to the track before he competes in the 2012 Race of Champions at the Chili Bowl Midget Nationals in Tulsa, Okla.
  • President Barack Obama (right) talks with NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Tony Stewart during an event to honor him and the other 2011 Sprint Cup Series drivers at the White House on Tuesday, April 17, 2012.
  • Stewart drives the No. 14 Chevrolet during the Feed the Children Prelude to the Dream at Eldora Speedway on June 6, 2012 in Rossburg, Ohio. Stewart bought Eldora Speedway in 2004.
  • Stewart throws his helmet at Matt Kenseth's car after the two collided racing for the lead on lap 333 during the 2012 Irwin Tools Night Race in Bristol, Tenn.
  • The team owner says of balancing the demands on his time: "I've got more stuff asked of me every week. But I drive a race car for a living. … Life's good."
  • Tony Stewart celebrates winning the 2011 Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway.
  • Stewart endures yet another photo shoot, this one in his Nationwide Series suit. "Nice, nice!" shouts a director. "You're a pro. That was bad ass."
  • Jeff Burton, left, says he's come to like and respect Tony Stewart, right, quite a bit over the years.
  • Tony Stewart, above, stars in a Mobil 1 commercial with Formula One driver Jenson Button.
  • Tony Stewart, not visible, is checked over by medics after being involved in a four-car wreck at Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa.
  • Mark Martin, left, talks to Tony Stewart during the drivers' introductory lap before the Sprint Cup race in Fontana, Calif., in 2013.
  • Three-time Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart plans to drive over 100 races at smaller venues this season.
  • Stewart Haas Racing expanded to three cars in 2013, adding Danica Patrick as a full-time driver in Sprint Cup.
  • Stewart won the Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway in July 2005 for the first of four wins in the summer race there.
  • There always is a media crush around the three-time Sprint Cup champion, shown here at Daytona Speedweeks in 2010.
  • Tony Stewart gets wheeled into a press conference on Sept. 3. Stewart fractured his tibia and fibula in a sprint car crash in Iowa on Aug. 5, 2013.
  • Tony Stewart told reporters at a Sept. 3 newsconference, "I've damn near passed out at every doctor visit I've been to so far," because there was so much skin damage.