Three Wrecks Leaves Newman 17th In Points
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“We were at the mercy of a lot of untalented drivers,” said Newman of getting hit three different times in the Coke Zero 400 by three different drivers. “Three times I was either hit or got hit by somebody that ran out of talent. That was disappointing but the guys did a good job fighting back.”
Starting in the back at Daytona is dangerous. You get crazy people up front, on person makes a little wrong move causing a huge train of events leading the “big one”.
Newman found that out when he was not wrecked once or twice, but three times during Saturday nights Coke Zero 400 at Daytona.
The first incident happened on lap 45 when the No. 26 of Jamie McMurray made contact with Newman’s Dodge and he went spinning off the track. The hit, causing a flat right-front tire, brought Newman down to pit road for fresh tires and fuel. Other than that he was fine.
The second incident came on Lap 124 when David Gilliland said he felt a tire going down, got loose and hit the wall, but not before taking Newman with him. Newman got squashed between Gilliland and the wall. Luckily the car did not seem like it was in to bad of shape.
Then on until Lap 136 a bobble from Martin Truex Jr. caused the No. 1 to make contact with Denny Hamlin’s No. 11 Toyota which then collected Newman, again.
That ended Newman’s night. He did make it back on the track 13 laps down and gained 1 or to positions to finish 36th.
“Well we didn’t, but in the end that’s not going to make a difference, we lost a lot of points today,” he said.
Newman fell to 17th in points and 185 points out of the important 12th position.
With 8 races left until the chase, Newman is by no means out of it, but it will be struggle.
NASCAR.COM ARTICLE - http://www.nascar.com/2008/news/headlines/cup/07/06/rnewman.daytona.tough.day/index.html?eref=/rss/drivers/rnewman
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This was a painful weekend for the #12 team. They had a great car, but a bunch of “untalented” (LOL, great quote from Ryan) drivers ruined any chance of a good finish. I was hoping Ryan could gain some ground here, because I’m not confident with this team at the 1.5 mile tracks. To quote the great Yogi Berra, “its not over till its over”.
Newman was doing so well and even after the first accident he was gaining ground really well. It’s unfortunate that they were in the middle of those accidents. “Untalented” is definately it. And to think I was nervous about him starting next to JPM! :) Good luck to Newman next week and hopefully we can gain some points and ground towards getting back in the top 12!
Wrecked 3 times?
Could this be a sign that he will drive a car with the # 3 in it?
The chase is over, this entire season was over after the Daytona 500.
Okay…..now I am getting worried!!!! Good car and still can’t catch a break!!
Things like that happen to Gordon, Johnson, Junior, Tony all the guys in the top 12.
The problem is to have a great car on a consistent basis. This is where PRS has failed. If Ryan had a great car all season then he would not be 17th in points he would be about 5th with a cushion for wild card races like Daytona.
Ryan is a great driver I think people are expecting too much from him. He had bad luck and the car wrecked. It happens. This was bad luck unlike the unacceptable engine failures.
You’re right. The race he ran was just that….racing! That we expect. And he did have a good car. PRS has failed him and the others by not keeping them in competitive equipement. I don’t think anyone expects too much of Ryan. He is very capable. I don’t even think anyone thinks of his placement as anything other than what it is.
I also don’t think anyone will be surprissed by his announcement in the next couple of weeks. It is time.