Ryan Newman Finishes 43rd at Kansas

In every race, some one has to come in dead last. That is where Ryan Newman and his #12 Alltel Dodge finished....dead and last - 43rd. This was caused by yet another engine failure for Newman this year.

This infraction regulated that Newman start in the back of the pack at 42nd. The pole setter Jimmie Johnson also had to start at the back because he wrecked his car in Happy Hour and had to resort to his back up car.

Newman made his way up in the field fast. After the first pit stop Newman advanced to 16th by only taking 2 tires on that pit stop.

But around lap 50 (NOT 50 to go - LAP 50) Newman reported that he had lost a valve and was only running on 7 cylinders - that ended his day.

Sundays finish dropped Newman to 16th in the point standings. Newman is now -227 points in behind Dale Earnhardt JR. in 13th (the top position for the non-Chasers). In 14th is Gregg Biffle and 9 points ahead of Newman in 15th place is Casey Mears.

On lap 149 of the race, NASCAR threw the red flag due to weather. Rain, wind and lighting were strong. The race finally got back underway after 7pm. Nascar also announced that the race was going to be shortened to 225 laps due to night fall coming.

After 2 more cautions, NASCAR announced that they were going to have to shorten the race again due to the cautions and time constrants of night fall.

The race ended under caution with Gregg Biffle taking the checkered. There was some controversy though because under caution, Biffle ran out of gas and could not cross the finish line. NASCAR contends that under the caution the field was froze - regardless.

Clint Boyer took second and Jimmie Johnson finished third. Clint was interviewed and politley stated that he thought Biffle should have had to cross the line under his own power and there for making him (Boyer) the winner. I think I agree.

This was overall a bad weekend for Ryan Newman and his #12 Alltel Dodge team. After qualifying 2nd for the race, post qualifying inspection deemed that the Alltel Dodges roof was to low and that the right rear quarter panel was to high.

TOP TEN FINISHERS -

1 Greg Biffle
2 Clint Bowyer
3 Jimmie Johnson
4 Casey Mears
5 Jeff Gordon
6 Kevin Harvick
7 Reed Sorenson
8 Elliott Sadler
9 Kasey Kahne
10 Dale Earnhardt Jr.