Friday, September 14, 2007

Ryan Newman 1st Practice Results For New Hampshire International Speedway

Ryan Newman and the #12 Mobil 1 Dodge team had their first practice at New Hampshire International Speedway for the NASCAR Nextel Cup Sylvania 300.
Newman was 5 in practice with a speed of 128.71 mph / 29.592 sec.
Newman was -0.16 seconds behind the leader Jimmie Johnson who had a practice time of 129.41 / 29.432.



Practice 1 Results

Good luck to Ryan Newman and the #12 Mobil 1 Dodge Penske Racing Team in the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire International Speedway

NEWMAN FOCUSING ON WINNING

Ryan Newman will make his 12th Cup start at New Hampshire International Speedway. It will be his 215th career start in the Cup Series.

 

Newman has an average start of 6.4 and an average finish of 11.3. Newman has four Bud Pole Awards and four other top-10 starts. His lowest start was 16th in July 2003.

 

Newman has two wins at NHIS and six other top-10 finishes, including three top fives.

 

Newman has led 518 laps in 10 races at Loudon. He has led at least one lap in each race except for last year's Sylvania 300. He has completed 97.9 percent of the laps possible at the New England track - 3,148 of 3,215 - since he made his Cup debut at the track in 2002.

 

Every September, when the NASCAR Cup Series visits Loudon, N.H., Ryan Newman and the No. 12 team make a stop at the St. Charles Children's Home in Rochester, N.H. This year, all three Penske teams will make the trek to Rochester and play with the children, eat dinner and make ice cream sundaes. Last year, the team and Mobil 1 donated numerous items to the children, including two DVD players [one for each side of the house], DVDs, CDs and a great deal of Ryan Newman merchandise, thanks to Motorsports Authentics and the Ryan Newman Fan Club. Mobil 1 even brought a show car just for the children and the sisters.

 

This year's visit will be on Saturday, Sept. 15.

 

Crew chief Mike Nelson and the Alltel team are taking chassis PRS-509 to New Hampshire as their primary car. It was tested at Charlotte in May, but has not been raced. The backup car is chassis PRS-519. It was the backup car Newman took to Richmond. It is new and it has never been on a track for a test or a race.

Newman On New Hampshire: "We didn't make the Chase, but we still have 10 races left. This team is not giving up by any means. We still have races to win and that's what we are going to focus on. We want to show everyone that just because we aren't running for the championship doesn't mean that we don't have just as much fire in us as those teams that are in the Chase."

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Thank You Fellow Ryan Newman Fans and Visitors

I just wanted to say thanks to the all the people that visit this blog.

I know I just repost a lot of news articles here, but I do also post some original stuff. The main purpose of me starting this blog was just to get information about Ryan Newman out there......in one place. I got tired of going here and there looking for information and news about Ryan Newman. So I decided to start my own blog so that I could put all that information in one location.

Well, I still have to go to all of those other places to get the news, then back to here to repost it. So I have actually created more work for myself. Oh well, I am having fun doing it, learning alot and learning alot of programming "stuff".

Anyway, recently I have recieved some very nice emails complimenting me on this blog and how nice it is to find all this information about Ryan Newman in one place. Well, thank you, it was/is my hope to bring as much info here as I can.

I am hoping during the off-season, during the freezing cold of winter, to work on "sprucing" the site up. I think it is a little "clunky" and need to be dressed it up.

But thanks again for the nice emails. I appreciate it and like reading them to my fiance.....who by the way could go absolutely nuts with me working on this all the time. And if it isn't this site, then it is some new related project that I am working on. Anyway she is great.

And I am very lucky...she is a NASCAR fan and since meeting me has become a Ryan Newman fan...or at least like to help me keep up on him.

Thank again,
Mike

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

Ryan Newman and the New Hampshire International Speedway

Welcome to New Hampshire International Speedway located in Loudon, NH.

Ryan Newman and his Penske Racing #12 Mobile 1 Dodge will be racing here this weekend in the Sylvania 300.

New Hampshire International Speedway


-Location : Loudon, NH
-Completed : 1990
-Distance : 1.058 miles
-Shape : Oval
-Seating : 91,000


-Nextel Cup Top Race Speed : 117.134 by Jeff Burton on 7/13/1997
-Nextel Cup Top Qualifying Speed : 133.357 by Ryan Newman on 9/12/2003


MANUFATURER WINS AT New Hampshire International Speedway SINCE 2002
DODGE = 2
FORD = 3
CHEVROLET = 5


RYAN NEWMAN'S STATS AT New Hampshire International Speedway



Ryan Newman's Stats
At New Hampshire International SpeedwayAt Intermediate Tracks
STARTS11139
POLES4NA
WINS211
TOP 5541
TOP 10860
AVG START6.48.1
AVG FINISH11.317.3
LAPS COMP3148NA
% COMP-0.9539NA
LAPS LED518NA
TOTAL $$$1514472NA


Good luck to Ryan Newman and the Penske Racing's #12 Mobile 1 Dodge NASCAR Nextel Cup Team at New Hampshire International Speedway for the Sylvania 300 this coming week and weekend!!!


Mike Pratt

Richmond Cup race sees increased viewership

The first NASCAR Nextel Cup race televised on ABC since July 2000 delivered an increase in viewership for the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 at Richmond International Raceway, according to a network release.

The telecast by ESPN on ABC had a 4.2 fast national rating with more than 4,731,000 households and more than 6,750,000 viewers.

The households represent a 33 percent increase (up from 3,568,000) and the viewership increased 28 percent (up from 5,288,000) from last year's Richmond telecast, which was broadcast on the cable network TNT.

ABC won Saturday night in all key adult demographics, and the race delivered ABC its largest Saturday night audience since April, as well as its strongest adult 18-49 Saturday night audience since December.

NASCAR slows COT speeds on second day of Talladega test

TALLADEGA, Ala. (AP) — NASCAR slowed speeds Tuesday on the Car of Tomorrow at Talladega Superspeedway, where only half the field topped 190 m.p.h on the second day of the test session.

With a smaller restrictor-plate, only 27 drivers went over 190. Paul Menard turned the fastest lap of the day at 193.045 mph in a Chevrolet. Speeds reached 196 m.p.h on Monday, and 44 drivers topped 190.

"We have the tools to slow them down. NASCAR did a good job with that," driver Ryan Newman said. "Basically we're just acclimating the car to the race track."

The CoT is being phased into competition this season, and it will make its restrictor-plate race debut at Talladega in October.

That event is also in the Chase for the Nextel Cup championship.

NASCAR experimented with several restrictor-plate packages and wicker setups, and there didn't seem to be many complaints about the car's handling.

"It drives like it's on a rail," Carl Edwards said. "We have to work on the visibility through the cars. You can't see anything in front of you when you're tucked up behind somebody. But other than that, it seems fine."

Several drivers said the CoT already is acclimated to restrictor-plate racing in terms of bump drafting. Because of the uniformity of the cars, the bumpers match perfectly, which the drivers speculated should allow for more and possibly safer bump drafting.

"You're going to see a lot of bump drafting - a lot of bump drafting - just because of the way these cars are built and the way the bumpers line up," Casey Mears said. "I think the race is going to be good, and it's going to be a big ol' tight group like always."

A late afternoon rain shower cut the session short by almost three hours, but drivers seemed pleased with the two-day test.

"I'm excited about (the CoT)," 2004 series champion Kurt Busch said. "It's going to change the element of how Talladega races, and I think it will be twice as exciting."

South Bend Motor Speedway's Future?

The checkered flag may have waved for the last time at the South Bend Motor Speedway.

This past weekend the speedway hosted their last show.

The owner Mike Bird says the race track is closed and for sale.

It opened more than 60 years ago and has featured the likes of famous Nascar drivers like Darryl Waltrip, David Stremme, and Ryan Newman.

The owner says he would like to sell the property to a developer who will rehabilitate the track but can't guarantee that will happen.

Drivers who grew up going to the track are worried about its future.

“I think it is sad. I think a lot of people look forward to going there,” says long time driver Aaron Bridwell.

A demolition derby was scheduled for October but has been canceled after a low turnout at this weekend's show.

The owner hopes to know something concrete on the track's future within the next two weeks.

Penske - Noting Newman - Sept. 11, 2007

-- Ryan Newman, driver of the No. 12 Mobil 1 Dodge Avenger, will make his 12th Cup start at New Hampshire International Speedway. It will be his 215th career start in the Cup Series.

-- Newman has an average start of 6.4 and an average finish of 11.3. Newman has four Bud Pole Awards and four other top-10 starts. His lowest start was 16th in July 2003.

-- Newman has two wins at NHIS and six other top-10 finishes, including three top fives.

-- Newman has led 518 laps in 10 races at Loudon. He has led at least one lap in each race except for last years Sylvania 300. He has completed 97.9 percent of the laps possible at the New England track3,148 of 3,215since he made his Cup debut at the track in 2002.

-- Every September, when the NASCAR Cup Series visits Loudon, N.H., Ryan Newman and the No. 12 team make a stop at the St. Charles Childrens Home in Rochester, N.H. This year, all three Penske teams will make the trek to Rochester and play with the children, eat dinner and make ice cream sundaes. Last year, the team and Mobil 1 donated numerous items to the children, including two DVD players [one for each side of the house], DVDs, CDs and a great deal of Ryan Newman merchandise, thanks to Motorsports Authentics and the Ryan Newman Fan Club. Mobil 1 even brought a show car just for the children and the sisters. This years visit will be on Saturday, Sept. 15.

-- Crew chief Mike Nelson and the Alltel team are taking chassis PRS-509 to New Hampshire as their primary car. It was tested at Charlotte in May, but has not been raced. The backup car is chassis PRS-519. It was the backup car Newman took to Richmond. It is new and it has never been on a track for a test or a race.

Newman On New Hampshire: "We didnt make the Chase, but we still have 10 races left. This team is not giving up by any means. We still have races to win and thats what we are going to focus on. We want to show everyone that just because we arent running for the championship doesnt mean that we dont have just as much fire in us as those teams that are in the Chase.

Monday, September 10, 2007

Ryan Newman Testing COT At Talladega

TALLADEGA, AL - SEPTEMBER 10: Ryan Newman, driver of the #12 Alltel Dodge drives during testing at Talladega Super Speedway September 10, 2007 in Talladega, Alabama.

Pictures Of 'Dega Testing


TALLADEGA, AL - SEPTEMBER 10: Pat Tryson, crew chief for the #2 Miller Lite Dodge, inspects his car where Ryan Newman, driver of the #12 Altell Dodge was bump drafting during testing at Talladega Super Speedway September 10, 2007 in Talladega, Alabama.

NASCAR officials monitor testing for Taladega race

TALLADEGA, Ala. -- More than 50 Nextel Cup race teams tested the Car of Tomorrow at Talladega Superspeedway on Monday, the first of a two-day warmup for the COT's first restrictor-plate race.

The session was divided into two parts: single-car runs in the morning, and a four-hour drafting session in the afternoon. NASCAR is phasing the COT into competition this season, and it makes its Talladega debut next month in a Chase for the Nextel Cup championship event.

NASCAR officials closely monitored the session, trying to find the right restrictor-plate to use to create a balance between speed and safety for the fastest track on the circuit.

"I know there is a bigger plate in this car because it has so much more drag," driver Dave Blaney said. "NASCAR will make the speeds in these cars whatever they want it to be. They could go 210 [mph] or they can go 180."

Johnny Sauter turned the fastest lap of the day at 196.165 mph in a Chevrolet, and was followed by Martin Truex Jr.'s mark of 195.564 in another Chevrolet.

David Stremme was third at 194.884 to lead a Dodge trio of Kasey Kahne and Juan Pablo Montoya.

Former Formula One world champion Jacques Villeneuve was the fastest Toyota at 194.326, and Carl Edwards had the fastest Ford at 193.944.

Drivers had mixed reviews on the different things NASCAR tried.

"There are packages that would really let the cars suck up well and create a lot of passing," said defending Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, who also tested the CoT at Talladega last October. "The problem is it pushes that threshold for the speed up too high, and then we have to come down on the restrictor plate and other things to get the cars back where they need to be speed-wise.

"When we had the cars at the right speed for safety, it took out some of the passing. So I'm hopeful that NASCAR [can] find a little bit better drafting package as a whole here, where we can still have passing but keep the speeds down where they need to be."

Denny Hamlin said he anticipates that the COT will result in even tighter racing than usual at Talladega, which usually produces multiple lead changes anyway because of the pack racing created by the restrictor plates.

"It's tough to say how the drivers are going to take it, but the way the cars are set up and the big hole they punch in the air, it should be way wilder than anything we've ever seen here," Hamlin said. "I'd say it's going to be a lot like the Truck [Series] races, where they talk about how big the closing rate is.

"I really don't see that the cars are going to be pulling apart very much. I think these cars are going to punch such a big hole in the air that we're really going to be stuck together like glue, and if one guy makes a mistake, it could be a big one."

For Villeneuve, who is moving to NASCAR next season, the plate racing was an eye-opening experience. The Canadian said he was warned before the test session about what to expect during the close-quarter drafting practice, which is vastly different from the style of racing he is accustomed to in F1.

"I've been told that I will be wondering what this bunch of lunatics is doing out there running so close to each other the whole time," Villeneuve said. "Just like kids I suppose. But it should be fun. I am probably going to stay in the back and watch what happens."

He was patient during the draft session, staying well behind a group of 11 cars for nearly a dozen laps before finally sneaking into the pack and running two-wide for a few trips around the 2.66-mile trioval.

The practice was briefly halted late in the afternoon when Reed Sorenson hit the wall in Turn 2. The test continues Tuesday.

NEWMAN FIGHTS BACK FOR 11TH-PLACE FINISH

RICHMOND, Va. (Sept. 8, 2007) – Ryan Newman, driver of the No. 12 Alltel Dodge Avenger, had to overcome a myriad of problems during Saturday night's Chevy Rock & Roll 400 at Richmond International Raceway to finish 11th.
Newman, who started in the fourth position for the fourth consecutive race, moved into second immediately and told his crew on the team's two-way radios that his car was very good. Even though he had fallen back to fourth by the time the first caution period began on lap 10, he informed his crew that the car was fine, nothing too much to worry about.
After the restart on lap 14, Newman again moved up to second. When the second of 12 caution flags waved on lap 24, most of the lead-lap cars pitted. Newman received only right-side tires and fuel, and won the race off pit road. On the restart, Casey Mears and David Gilliland were in front of Newman because they didn't pit, but within four laps, Newman had overtaken both cars and moved into the lead.
"The car is awesome," Newman radioed his crew when he took over the first position on lap 32.
For 33 laps, no one could catch Newman. Every lap, he was at least one second ahead of the second-place Jeff Gordon until the yellow waved on lap 63, allowing the field to close on Newman.
Newman came in for his second stop for four tires and fuel during the third caution period. A problem with the right-front tire caused Newman to lose two spots on pit road, and he had a hard time catching the frontrunners after the restart on lap 71, even though he was one of the fastest cars on the track.
Around lap 90, the car began to become extremely tight and it gave Newman problems, which led to the Alltel Dodge falling back in the field. Newman started running with his left-side tires on the apron to help him control the car due to the tightness, but he was still getting passed.
When the caution waved on lap 132, Newman told crew chief Michael Nelson that a pretty big change was needed in order to free the car. On his third stop, Newman received four tires, fuel, two rounds of wedge out of the left rear and two rounds up on the right-side track bar. Newman was able to pick up a position for the restart, but now the car was just a tick too loose after the adjustments.
On lap 182, leader Carl Edwards' car blew an engine, bringing out another caution, and Newman came in for more adjustments on his Dodge. Nelson ordered air pressure adjustments only and gave Newman four tires and fuel.
 
After the restart on lap 190, Newman passed Jimmie Johnson for fourth, but then the car suddenly became way too loose and he dropped to sixth. Newman's biggest problem was on the exit of the corners. He remained on the track during the next caution period and when the field took the green again, the car was too loose. That caused Newman to fall to seventh.
 
Newman came in for his fifth stop on lap 236. He received four tires, fuel, two rounds down on the right-side track bar and Nelson had tire specialist Whit Satterwhite go back on the right-side pressures. Three lead-lap cars stayed out during the stops. That left Newman restarting sixth, but the yellow would soon wave again and this time, Newman was caught in the melee.
 
On lap 242, Newman hit the wall after Matt Kenseth spun the Alltel Dodge, causing a multi-car accident. Teammate Kurt Busch and Juan Pablo Montoya also were involved in the wreck, but luckily for the Penske teammates, the damage to their cars was primarily superficial, mostly sheet metal damage. Montoya, on the other hand, had severe damage to his car's front that caused a fire to erupt, eliminating Montoya from the race. The extensive damage also resulted in an 8-minute 18-second red flag. NASCAR stopped the cars on pit road while the track was cleaned.
 
Newman restarted in 26th, but he was able to fight his way through the field.
 
On lap 268, Newman passed two cars to climb into the top 20. Battling a little looseness in his Dodge, Newman had maneuvered his way into the top 15 by lap 285. Now, he was looking toward the top 10.
 
Another multi-car accident on lap 294 caused another red flag, this one for 19 minutes 33 seconds. When the cars were rolling again, the lead-lap cars came in for another round of pit stops. This time Newman received four tires, fuel and one round of wedge in the left rear.
 
After moving into 13th, Newman and Kevin Harvick battled for quite a few laps for that position, passing each other every few laps. Finally, Newman won the fight and on lap 335, the Alltel Dodge was back in the top 10.
 
Unfortunately, it wouldn't last.
 
The field pitted again on lap 338. Newman was supposed to get four tires, fuel and one-and-a-half rounds down on the right-side track bar. However, the jack broke as soon as it went under the car and the lengthy visit on pit road caused Nelson to change the stop to right-side tires only in order to keep Newman from losing too many spots. Newman lost three spots when the field restarted, but he wasn't able to make up any ground, as the yellow came back out before the field could even make one green-flag lap.
 
While the NASCAR crews were cleaning up the mess from another blown engine, Newman informed his crew that he might have an alternator going bad and Nelson told the crew to get ready to change the battery if needed. Newman felt he had enough power to get through the race, though, and he never returned to pit road.
 
Newman made his way up to 12th and when Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s car blew an engine in the closing laps, Newman moved up to 11th where he would be when the checkered flag waved on lap 400.
 
Next weekend, Newman will drive the No. 12 Mobil 1 Dodge Avenger in the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire International Speedway. ABC and MRN Radio will broadcast the race live beginning at 1 p.m. EDT.
 

Ryan Newman Takes 11th At Richmond and Team Mate Busch Earns Spot In Title Chase With 9th-Place Finish

RICHMOND, Va. (Sept. 8, 2007) Kurt Busch earned a spot in this year's championship battle with his ninth-place finish in Saturday's Chevy Rock & Roll 400 at Richmond International Raceway, while Ryan Newman overcame a myriad of problems to place 11th.

Busch was 10th in the point standings at the end of 26 races, but when the points were set for the Chase for the NEXTEL Cup, the Las Vegas native was seeded fifth due to his two victories this season.

Once the top 12 are determined, each driver is given 5,000 points and then 10 bonus points for each victory during the first 26 races. That rearranged the standings and put Jimmie Johnson, with six victories, in the lead with 5,060 points. Busch now has 5,020 points, leaving him 40 points out of first.

"It's great that we've positioned ourselves and got a couple wins to be fifth overall," Busch said after Saturday night's 400-lap race that contained 12 yellow and two red flags. "That's how you have to work the system. Bonus points move you up when the Chase starts, so you better have some wins."

Busch's Miller Lite Dodge started the race in 14th and was a fixture in the top 10 from lap 50 on. The evening's biggest scare came on lap 242 when Newman was spun on the frontstretch, collecting several other cars in the incident. Busch slowed and attempted to avoid the melee, but was plowed into from the rear by Juan Pablo Montoya, who also received a ram from the rear. The damage proved to be mostly sheet metal and Busch was able to continue with a competitive car.

Busch said when he saw Newman spin and then smoke fill the track, he knew the only thing he could do was "hunker down and wait for the impact."

"So I held the wheel pretty tight and when you do that you get hit from behind; when you stop like that," Busch continued. "Our heart was beating at thousand miles per hour after that cause I figured the rear bumper cover was flapping in the wind or there might be material dragging on the tires. Luckily, there was a red flag at that point.

We checked the car out and everything was OK. Our car was a little loose after that. After the crush panels got tore out of the back, the downforce just didn't seem to be there.

"Man, when I got out of the car after the race and saw all the damage done from that crash, I was totally shocked. I'm sure it looked a lot worse than it really was. But if I'd been able to see the car from where I was sitting, I would have probably thought that there would be no way we'd be able to run as competitive as we did for the remainder of the race.

"Right there is another example of what [crew chief] Pat Tryson brings to the table. He is so calm under pressure and he stays on top of everything. He kept assuring me that we still had a very competitive car and we were able to get everything we possibly could out of the night."

Even though Busch won the series championship in 2004, the Chase's inaugural year, he said Dover, Talladega and Charlotte were the tracks that concerned him in the final 10 races. Dover, he said, would be tough because it was a COT race and "these cars have an interesting quirk in them when you race at Dover."

"Im looking at a couple trouble makers like Talladega; that will be a tough one, especially with the COT there," Busch continued. "Then Charlotte; that has been a struggle for me, so Ill talk to 'Humpy' Wheeler and see if I cant get some magic from him and be OK at Charlotte.

Busch was guaranteed a position in the Chase if he finished 36th or better. Newman was eliminated from the title battle before Richmond, so all that mattered to the Alltel team was acquiring a victory.

Early in the race, it appeared Newman might be a victory contender, as he led once for 33 laps on the 0.75-mile track. However, Newman then began having problems. First, his car wouldn't handle properly. Then, on lap 242, he got hit in the rear and spun on the frontstretch. When he pitted on lap 338, the team's jack broke during the stop. Crew chief Mike Nelson quickly made the decision to change the stop from a four-tire change to two in an effort to keep Newman from losing several positions on pit road. Next, Newman told his crew he thought his car's alternator was going bad. Newman still managed to finish 11th, leaving him 14th in the point standings.

Next weekend, the Chase for the Championship begins at New Hampshire with Busch seeking the series title and Newman looking for a victory. The Sylvania 300 will be televised by ABC and broadcast by MRN Radio beginning at 1 p.m. EDT.

Sunday, September 9, 2007

Was The Race To The 2007 Chase Exciting?

It seems like over the last couple of day/weeks I have read a lot of articles and postings about how NASCAR messed up going with 12 in the Chase instead of 10. Because this year it would have been more exciting with only 10. I realize that everyone is not going to be happy and there are the people out there that will complain.....even if they are happy.

But I thought it was exciting leading up to this point. Every week I was cheering on Ryan Newman (maybe I jinx him?) and Dale Earnhardt JR. I really wanted to see both of them in the Chase.

Newman was out of it as of last week when he finished 39th at California with a blown engine. Dale Earnhardt JR was still in it in last nights race and gave the fans a hell of a show...in my opinion.

I thought last nights race was not only a good race, but also exciting for the Chase to the Nextel Cup. The 2 drivers 12th or better that were on the bubble in 11th and 12th started having problems. Kurt Busch got hit from behind and had pretty good damage. Harvick started seriously over heating spewing water after going through the grass to avoid a wreck, the same one that messed up Busch a little.

And on top of all of that, Dale Earnhardt JR was doing really good and had a strong car. He did not have a car to win with I don't think, but definetly a top 5.

I never really root for anyone to do bad in a race. I of course do root for my favorite drivers to do well. But last night I was rooting for anything to happen to get JR in the Chase. He is my second favorite driver, and since my #1 already missed it, I had to cheer JR on.

JR blew an engine with about 13 laps to go and all of that got sqashed. Actually with 20 laps to go, JR was officially out of the chase as Kevin Harvick could not be beat at that point.

But, it was a little extra excitement for the race and for the chase to the race.

I don't think NASCAR should go anymore than 12. If they want to take it back down to 10 I would be happy with that.

Right now we have
- 44% of the drivers that competed in every race are now in the Chase.
- 30% of the field of 43 drivers are now in the Chase
- 18% of the all the drivers that have been in at least 1 race are now in the chase.

That sounds good to me. I hope they don't increase it any more.

Defining moments in the season that decided Chase

By Mark Aumann, NASCAR.COM
September 9, 2007
12:07 PM EDT

In the course of a season, each team goes through many peaks and valleys. That's understandable, given the level of competition, each team's success rate at different tracks and the length of the schedule.

But given the opportunity for 20-20 hindsight, it's possible to look back and see moments that could be considered a momentum shift either contributing to the success or failure of each team's chances of making the Chase for the Nextel Cup.

In the case of four teams -- two which made it, two which did not -- there were specific instances that proved to be a key to where they stood in the standings after Saturday night's Chevy Rock & Roll 400 at Richmond International Raceway, and not all occured on the racetrack.

Ryan Newman: Lap 21, Allstate 400 at the Brickyard

Newman was 30 points behind Dale Earnhardt Jr. for the 12th and final spot in the Chase field heading into Indianapolis. He qualified third and expected big things when the race started.

However, he quickly dropped back in the field with handling issues after the drop of the green, and his day went from bad to worse when he made contact with David Stremme in Turn 4, spun and made heavy contact with the wall, sidelining the No. 12 Dodge for the rest of the day.

"I just got hit in the left rear quarter panel," Newman said. "Stremme tried sticking it underneath me when he shouldn't have and spun us around. It's unfortunate. We took a pretty good lick to the wall and ended our day."

Newman knew at the time, the resulting 42nd-place finish was a huge blow to his Chase hopes. He dropped behind Kurt Busch into 14th, 59 points behind Junior. Still, with six races remaining, he believed he could rally.

"It was definitely a devastating blow in more than one way, but we can come back," he said. "It's just a matter of how far we can come back now."

Newman did rally the next weekend at Pocono, finishing seventh. Unfortunately, Busch and Earnhardt finished first and second. And despite putting together four consecutive finishes of 16th or better, Newman steadily lost ground to Busch.

He was eliminated from Chase contention at California when he suffered engine problems and finished 39th.

Read the rest of the article at NASCAR.com HERE

Ryan Newman Finished 11th At Richmond's Chevy Rock and Roll 400

Ryan Newman had a pretty good night at Richmond finishing 11th after starting 4th.

Newman ran in the Top 10 for the first half of the race. He even led 25 or so laps and was looking really strong.

On lap 242 Newman spun and collected Kurt Busch and Juan Montoya. Montoya's No. 42 caught on fire in the infield. Busch ended up with damage to the rear of his car. This ultimetly resulted in the red flag being thrown on lap 245.

Caution #9 came when Sorenson spun after getting into the back of Gilliland when he slowed up. Newman ended up in the back of Sorenson and then managed to dive out of the way to avoid further damage.

After that Newman spend the rest of his evening getting back up to his finishing position of 11th.

Newman was officially out of the Chase for the Nextel Cup before this race started, so the race at Richmond did not have any effect on that.

Newman now sits in 14th position 64 points behind Dale Earnhardt JR in 13th place. JR did not make the Chase either but also had a fantastic night at Richmond before his engine blew with only 5 laps to go. That is JR's fifth DNF this season due to engine failure.

The 2007 Chase For The NEXTEL CUP is now set in stone. The contenders for the cup are -

1 -- Jeff Gordon
2 -- Tony Stewart
3 -- Denny Hamlin
4 +2 Jimmie Johnson
5 -- Matt Kenseth
6 -2 Carl Edwards
7 -- Jeff Burton
8 -- Kyle Busch
9 -- Clint Bowyer
10 +1 Kurt Busch
11 -1 Martin Truex Jr.
12 -- Kevin Harvick