Ryan Newman (racing driver)

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Ryan Newman
Awards2003 Driver of the Year

2002 Rookie of the Year

1999 USAC Weld Racing Silver Crown Series champion

1996 USAC Silver Crown rookie of the year
NASCAR Cup Series career
Car no., team
  1. 12 - Penske Racing South
2006 position18th
Best finish6th - 2002, 2003 (Winston Cup), & 2005 (Nextel Cup)
First race2000 Checker Auto Parts/Dura Lube 500 (Phoenix)
First win2002 New Hampshire 300 (Loudon)
Last win2008 Daytona 500 (Florida)
Wins Top tens Poles
12 96 42

2008 Daytona 500 winner

Ryan Joseph Newman (born December 8, 1977 in South Bend, Indiana) (he shares this birthdate with fellow driver Kevin Harvick) is a driver in the NASCAR SPRINT Cup Series. He drives the #12 Alltel, Mobil 1, Kodak Dodge Avenger for Penske Racing. Newman, along with the late Alan Kulwicki, is one of the few NASCAR racers with a college degree, graduating from Purdue University in 2001 with a B. S. in vehicle structure engineering (Kulwicki's degree was in mechanical engineering).[1]

In 2002, he was the Raybestos Rookie of the Year. Ryan enjoys fishing, he also enjoys working on vintage automobiles, particularly 1950s Chryslers. Newman's car was featured on the cover of the 2005 EA Sports computer game NASCAR SimRacing and was actively involved in its development.

On February 17th, 2008, Newman won the Daytona 500.


Racing career

Ryan Newman's #12 at 2004 Mountain Dew Southern 500 in Darlington, South Carolina

.

2007 car

Early Days

Newman made his racing debut in 1993 in the All-American Midget Series, winning both Rookie of the Year and the championship. His 100 feature wins and two titles have him in the Quarter Midget Hall of Fame. Moving to USAC in 1995, he was ROTY again in both the Midget Series and the Silver Crown in 1996. In 1999, he was the first driver to win in all three divisions while being the Silver Bullet Series champion.

Beginnings with Penske

Ryan began working for legendary racing icon Roger Penske in 2000, winning 3 of the five ARCA RE/MAX Series races he entered, and making his Winston (nowNEXTEL Cup) debut at Phoenix International Raceway. In 2001, Newman continued in both ARCA and NASCAR, while attending Purdue University, becoming only the second driver since the late Alan Kulwicki to have a degree in mechanical engineering.

"Rocket Man"

Ryan would give the NASCAR world a taste of his true potential when he shockingly grabbed the pole for the Coca-Cola 600, the series' longest race. Newman would end his night with a crash between turns 1 and 2. Despite the wreck, Newman would take his first NASCAR victory in the Busch Series at Michigan. In 2002, Newman would challenge for NASCAR Rookie of the Year, driving the #12 Alltel Ford. He would take a season-high six poles, breaking the record set by Davey Allison. Newman became the second rookie since Dale Earnhardt Jr. to win the The Winston. In September, Newman would win his first career race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, starting from the pole. This race was emotional as his father was in attendance. While his main opponent for the rookie title, Jimmie Johnson had three wins, the pole for the Daytona 500, had led the points at one point, and was fifth by season's end, Ryan was more consistent, and it paid off with him being awarded Rookie of the Year. Teaming with Matt Borland, the duo were the only driver-crew chief duo to both have degrees in mechanical engineering.

Ryan's sophomore season would start out badly, with a famous flip at the Daytona 500 after contact with Ken Schrader. Although Newman would flip again at Talladega, Newman and his team would come back to reel off a series high eight wins and another series high eleven poles. Despite this, Newman would again finish sixth in points due to seven DNF's. His sheer amount of poles during the season led to him being nicknamed "Rocket Man". In 2004, Newman would make the inaugural Chase for the Cup, finishing seventh in points with two wins. The next year, Ryan made the Chase again, starting it off with a bang with his second New Hampshire victory. He would also return to the Busch Series after a four-year absence. He would go on to post a season high six wins in nine races entered. The streak included five consecutive races for a single season record. 2006 would be his worst year statistically. Not only would Newman have his first winless season, but would finish a career worst 18th in points. Making things even worse, his longtime crew chief would leave the team for Michael Waltrip Racing. Newman's pole record between his rookie year and 2006 would be 1 in every 3 races, putting him for a tie with 15th on the all time poles list. In 2007, Newman's winless streak continued, including a near win at Charlotte before a blown tire ended his hopes.[2] [3]

Grandfather clause

Newman's sponsor Alltel is officially banned from NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series sponsorship; however, because of a grandfather clause (when Nextel Communications, the predecessor to Sprint Nextel, agreed to the NASCAR sponsorship) which Alltel agreed in 2003 and has never challenged, the sponsorship has remained legal. Should NASCAR reimpose a ban on Alltel's sponsorship in Sprint Cup following its agreement with AT&T and the sale of Alltel, however, the sponsorship would move down to the NASCAR Nationwide Series, where there is no restriction.

Races won

Winston/Nextel Cup (13 career wins)

Busch Series (7 career wins)

International Race of Champions (1 career win)

Charity

Ryan and his wife Krissie operate the Ryan Newman Foundation. The foundation primarily focuses on assuring that adequate care is provided for unwanted dogs and cats in shelters and pounds. Ryan helped fund the construction of the Catawba County, North Carolina Humane Society shelter, in the county where he lives.

Trivia

  • In the Disney Channel show Hannah Montana, in the episode "Smells Like Teen Sellout", when Miley is celebrating her victory in the 1999 Rasberry Pie Eating Contest, the Tennessee mayor is Ryan Newman himself.

References

  1. ^ "A Breed Apart".
  2. ^ "Newman Wins Third Consecutive Pole".
  3. ^ "Modern Era Pole Winners".

External links

Preceded by NASCAR Rookie of the Year
2002 		Succeeded by
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