Ryan Newman Wins “Loopie” Award
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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — NASCAR’s Loop Data has completed its third year of existence, and a banner year it has been. Nextel Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson earned season bests in two key categories — Driver Rating with a 110.3 and Fastest Laps Run with 962.
To celebrate the three-year anniversary, NASCAR PR pored through the Loop Data and assigned a few awards to drivers not named Johnson. You can call them “partying gifts.” We’re calling them “The Loopies.”
The “Oh, So Close” Award: The motto of every fan whose driver has come oh so close. This award goes to Ryan Newman, who is this close to returning to his Rocket Man form of 2003. He flirted with victory a few times this season and finished 13th in the series standings. Most telling, he dramatically improved in Driver Rating by 10.2 points, the largest of those drivers who did not make the Chase. In 2006, Newman had a Driver Rating of 76.3; this season, he earned an 86.5.
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My Rocket -
I think this award hits Newmans whole season right on the head. He definetly had a lot better season than 2006 and it could have been even better with out those Engine troubles and other “bad luck” situations. This award really should extend to his whole team! They did a great job.
Mike
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I couldnt agree more, Mike. This team went through a horrible string of bad luck but perserved and the end of the season looked promising for the future. Never Surrender!