Newman Finishes 15th At New Hampshire
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Loading ...Ryan Newman started today’s race at New Hampshire in 16th position for the Lenox Industrial Tools 301.
His finish in 15th place leaves him 15th in the points position gaining 1 position. He is 104 points outside of 12th.
Kurt Busch won todays rain shortened race by staying instead of pitting right before the rain fell.
Newman started the race off saying that he needed a spring rubber taken out that they had put in. He By lap 20 he had fallen to the 20th position.
Around lap 40 cars were being put a lap down by the race leader Dale Earnhardt JR. Newman had moved up one position to 19th. McCauley informed Newman that if they make green flag stops, then they will not be able to take the spring rubber out. But if they make yellow flag stops it won’t be a problem.
Newman came in for his first pit on lap 68 under green flag conditions. There adjusted the track bar and rear end along with tire pressures to help with him being very loose off the corners. Newman entered the pits in 18th position. He exited in 26th and one lap down. Once green flag pits cycled through he was on the lead lap and in 19th. Kevin Harvick the race leader is 1 straight away distance behind Newman.
On lap 102 Newman was in 17th and saying that he doesn’t understand why but that he just has no grip. McCauley informed Newman that he was going to take a pound out of all the tires on the next stop. Newman then informed McCauley that he was also bouncing all over the place. Newman asked how far above minimum they were for the right front and McCauley told him that they were 1 pound above the minimum.
Lap 138 had a caution and Newman pitted. Changes were made and Newman after the restart Newman climbed to 13th.
Another caution came out on lap 152 when Joe Nemechek spun. Newman reported that he was chattering real bad in the corners. He says that it felt like there was no grip in the back as well.
McCauley told him that they were staying out.
Newman restarted in 13th. At this point in the race as the cars are lined up on the restart on lap 156, Newman would be in 17th in point standings.
It looked like between laps 160 and 170 Newman and Kasey Kahne had a great battle going for 13th position. I saw it on Trackpass because obviously the broadcast is not going to show Newman.
Newman won that battle and soon afterward got past Martin Truex JR for 12th. He then started hunting down his team mate Kurt Busch who was in 11th. He had a good distance to go to get to Kurt.
At this point Tony Stewart (possible new team mate of Newman’s) was leading the race.
About lap 195 Newman came up on the lap car of Paul Menard. Newman was not happy with Menard not getting out of the way. He told his spotter (his Dad Greg Newman) to remind him to just wreck the guy next time.
Caution came out on lap 203 when A.J. Allmendinger’s car blew up. Unless there are a lot of cautions, the cars can not make it to the end on fuel. McCauley informed Newman that they could go about 80 laps. So he asked him to try and start conserving now so that worse case scenario they need a splash and go.
Newman came in the pits in 12th and restarted in 12th after pit stops.
On top of fuel strategy McCauley is telling Newman that the RADAR is looking bad.
Aric Almirola brought out the 5th caution on lap 216 when he got tagged by Kasey Kahne in Turn 3. Almirola hangs on as he slides through most of the turn, but finally spins at the corner’s exit. He drives away. It was almost a great save.
Newman restarted in 10th because a couple drivers pitted.
On lap 225 Newman gets around the #88 of Dale Earnhardt JR for 9th position.
Greg Newman started telling Newman to get all that he can because he did not think the rain was going to hold off and the race would be cut short. That was lap 237. McCauley told Newman he was running faster than the people in front of him.
At this point if the track stayed in this form at the end of the race, Newman (running 9th)would maintain 16th in the point standings.
On lap 254 McCauley informs Newman that the storms are about 10 miles out. The announcers say that they are about 25 minutes out. Announcers have speculated that we will make it to the end of the race.
Dale Earnhardt JR spun on lap 271 to bring out the caution. JR was trying to get to pit lane when Jaime McMurray slammed in to the back of him.
Newman wants to know what to do. Come in or stay out. McCauley could not decide what to do and wants to wait to see what others are doing.
At the last minute the leaders pit. Newman needs 6 laps of fuel and takes fuel only. Newman enters the pits in 9th and restarts in 15th position.
On lap 284 the rain start coming down. The track goes red flag and that is how it ends with Ryan Newman in 15th and his teammate Kurt Busch in 1st.
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I had the chance to meet Ryan (second time) at the Airport on Thursday evening. He was once again very gracious and signed for the 12 people there. Several other drivers just drove past and ignored the small crowd.
As for the race : It was tough to sit in the stands and watch your guy (who either starts at the front or makes his way to the front at NHMS)struggle with the handling of his car (once again!. Normally he fairs really well at this track. Even though he won-Kurt Busch also struggled with his car.
In a local radio interview Marty Smith (ESPN) noted that he soundly believes that Newman would be going with Stewart next season. Smith is usually very accurate with his predictions!
He was doing well though in his handling of the car prior to the last caution….. I was sure we were going to get a top 10 and even possibly a top 5 on the final push…… bummed again! At least he picked off one more spot!!!!
shaun - thats cool you got to meet him again. I have heard from various people that he is always pretty gracious and usually always stops to take care of the fans.
Normally he does do very well at this track. But under the circumstances, 15th wasn’t to bad.
IF ONLY HE WOULD HAVE STAYED ON THE TRACK instead of pitting….some will say bad call by McCauley…..some will just chalk it up to bad luck.
Personally I think it was a bad call. They had the RADAR right in front of them and brought Newman in.
MAYBE he was about out of gas????
KIMMIJO: As usual Newman got a better finish than what it sounded like he should have had. I know he is frustrated with those cars.
I have met Ryan a couple of times…. Always wonderful. My daughter met him for the first time In April at the Phoenix race. She was never interested in NASCAR at all and not only is she a fan now…..she is a Newman fan! He won her over. So…… what is anyone thinking the direction is now for Ryan? Jayski.com has even changed the view of things?
I am lost on the direction of things now. I have heard good arguments as to “why would Newman go to an unknown team?”. I have to agree with that.
It almost makes more sense for him to go to the #20.
The more I think about it, the more it does not make any sense for him to go with Tony.
But, it really also depends on what his other options are. It depends on who wants him, who doesn’t.
It is easy to sit here and say I think he should go here or there. But we have no idea what he is being offered - both money and support. What are team plans (shakeups) if they take him on.
It is just hard to tell.
I still would like RCR
Sounds like Mears the talk with RCR—-
I am a true Newman fan and will follow him wherever he goes. I am sure Tony has plans for his future team, and I am sure he would not go into it blindly.
As for staying in or staying out, it seems like Newman is always told to pit. I think that strategy needs to be fixed, because even if he pits, he still either loses track position, or something stupid like speeding gets him.
I agree with RNF, the RADAR was right there, and even if the rain held off, this team needs to take some chances if we are to get back into the chase…
AGREED!!!!
Its ashame but again each week its the same story: TRACK POSITION!!! As for Newman’s future I believe that it will not be with PRS. I think that he’ll be either in the #20, the #33 or he’ll team up with Stewart if he starts his team. I hope he goes to the #20 only because its known that its a great car. I have heard rumors that the RCR is going to buy the owner points from the #01 when it closes down at the end of the year, so that would lock Ryan in every race. The only reason why Ryan would go with Stewart is to be with his best man at his wedding and former crew chief Matt Borland.
Not sure I would want to see Newman play 4th fiddle at RCR or Gibbs.
Can a Newman/Borland reunion be successful?
I am still thinking it all will have something to do with Stewart….
RCR is my choice. I know he would be brought in as fourth but I don’t think he would stay there. I think with the right equipment he would excel at the top of that team like everyone else.
Now, I think there is one trait that Newman has that will keep him from being first at about any job.
That trait is that the media does not find him exciting. He is never in the media…..and I wouldn’t be surprised if that is the way he likes it.
He does not seem to be a “glory hound” and that will keep him from being considered #1 on any team.
That is also a trait about him that I like. To many of these guys seem like they just soak up being in front of the cameras.
I don’t think he would fourth on the team (or any team) in terms of points standings.
IF HE HAS GOOD EQUIPMENT
Waiting on Stewart. But reports are coming out saying that Truex JR is going to Penske…..bad move for him I think. He is a good driver.
Hadn’t hear about Truex to Penske….. I thought possibly he would with Newman and Stewart. Heard talk of that as a 3rd team???