Newman And Alltel Dodge Team Look To Rebound At Texas

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (Oct. 30, 2007) After a tough weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway in which Ryan Newman, driver of the No. 12 Alltel Dodge Charger, qualified fifth but finished 37th after his car's engine failed, the team will head to Texas Motor Speedway for this weekend's Dickies 500.

Newman will make his ninth Cup start at the 1.5-mile track, just outside Fort Worth, Texas. It will be his 222nd career start in the Cup Series.

Newman has an average start of 14.2 and an average finish of 28.4 at the speedway that opened in 1997. He possesses three top-five starts, including two Bud Pole Awards, which he swept in 2005.

Newman owns one Texas win March 2003. His next highest finish is a 16th in April 2005. His other six finishes have been 25th or lower.

Were taking a brand-new car to Texas this week, Newman said. We tested it at Kentucky, but thats the only time its been on the track, so well see how it goes.
Last week, we had problems with our car all weekend. It didnt qualify the way it usually does and then it just got worse as the weekend went on. We had some great momentum going into Atlanta, but well be able to get that back during these last three weeks and hopefully, we can win a second time at Texas.

Newman has led 80 laps in three Texas races. He has completed 2,306 laps of a possible 2,677 since he made his Cup debut at the track in 2002. He possesses a completion rate of 86.1 percent at the intermediate track.

Crew Chief Michael Nelson and the No. 12 Alltel Dodge Charger team will take PRS-110 to Texas as their primary car. This car was tested at Kentucky, but has not been used in a race. The back-up car is PRS-108, which was used last weekend in Atlanta.

Sundays Dickies 500 will be covered live by ABC and PRN radio beginning at 2 p.m. EST.