Ryan Newman's Birthday - Dec 8th

Today, DEC 8th is Ryan Newmans Birthday!! Newman was born in 1977.

Happy Birthday Ryan!!!

Ryan Newman's 2007 Season Review

Ryan Newman and his Penske Racing #12 Dodge Team finished up the 2007 season in 13th place. 

 

Newman had an average start of 13.5 and an average finish of 18.1 this year.  He led 287 laps, recieved 95 bonus points and finished the season with an 86.5 rating.

 

Compared to the 2006 season, improvements were made.  Newman known for his pole positions only earned 2 in 2006 while earning 5 in 2007 (the other 4 years were higher than 5 poles).  He had 7 top 5 finishes and 15 top 10 finishes this year compared to 2 and 7 last year. 

 

Ryan Newman fans don't have to much to complain about regarding the 2007 Nascar Nextel Cup season.  Sure Newman and his team finished 13th - outside the chase.  Newman flirted with the 12th place position a lot this year but was never able to break into the top 12.  Every time he got close, he fell back a position or 2. 

 

Newman had some VERY bad luck during this 2007 season which really hampered his chances at making the chase.

 

In the 2007 season Newman was plagued with accidents and engine trouble.  He was caught up in accidents in 4 different races and had engine problems in 5 races.  That is 9 out of 36 races that he had fatal problems.  He also had other problems like being on pit road at the wrong time (caution), having tires go down and it seems like a slew of other things.  It is possible that rain even kept him from a win (Pocono).  A tire definetly kept him from a win (Lowes).  Newman even started the year with engine problems (Daytona 500). 

 

These are not excuses for Newman, but it all did happen and it all did hurt his season.

 

But, on the brighter side of things, Newman's 2007 season was a lot better than his 2006 season.  Newman really had a mulligan season in 2006 finishing in the 18th position.  That was his worst year in his Nascar Nextel Cup career.  In his first 4 seasons in the Nextel Cup (starting full time in 2002) his worst finishing position of the year was 7th.  As long as Newman keeps going up in the points standings and overall him and his team mates keep doing a good job, Newman fans should not get to discouraged.

  

Ryan Newman's team mate Kurt Busch had the luxury this year of having no engine failures.  So, I don't believe the engines Penske is getting are bad.  In fact I think they  are pretty good.  I do how ever think that Newman's crew chief this year - Mike Nelson (new criew chief for the 2007 season) may not have been getting the engine right.

 

With 3 races left in the season, Newman was quoted as saying that they had "de-tuned" the engine a little to ensure that it lasted for the whole race.  That kind of told me that it had been being "over tuned".  Here is the quote from qualifying at Atlanta for the Dickies 500 -

 

"We're caught between a rock and a hard place. We're detuning the engine just enough so we can make the race but then we're hoping it will last for 500 miles."

 

They started 11th and finished 5th for that race.  It is hard to judge one race or what exactly was done for other races, but this seemed to work.

 

For the last 10 races of the year Newman and his team did a great job.  Newman had 2 engine failures and 2 accidents.  After that 5 of the other last 6 were top 10 finishes with 4 of those being top 5 finishes.

 

Newman went win less in 2006 and 2007 making it 81 races and leading 530 laps since his last win. That win came back in 2005 on 09/18/2005 at New Hampshire - is only win of 2005.

 

LOOKING FORWARD -

 

I am looking for good things from Newman and his #12 Penske Racing team next year for the Sprint Cup (I still think that sounds wrong).  Newman should be in the chase next year and I think early in the year Newman will break his win less streak.

 

Newman will be getting a new crew chief for the 2008 season.  Roy McCulley will take of the duties of Mike Nelson who was promoted with in Penske.  I have a good feeling about Roy and Ryan working together.  During the 2006 season Newman ran in 9 Busch series races with Roy as his crew chief - he won 6 of those races.  So I think these 2 have established that they can work together.

 

Newman and his team mate Kurt Bucsh (and their teams) seem to get along good and I think that helps.  You always see (if your looking through them) pictures of Newman hanging out with Kurt Busch and Kurt's team.  Penske is adding a team also in 2008.  Sam Hornish JR. will be driving the #77 Mobil 1 Sprint Cup car.  having an addition team mate could be an advantage for Newman.  Hopefully it won't take away from any of the resorces that Newman does currently have.

 

Newman's contract with Penske will be over at the end of the 2008 season.  There are rumors and speculations that Newman will move on to another team.  I hope that this is not the case.  I think Newman will have a great year in 2008 and decide to stay with Penske - and Penske will want to keep him.

 

A good thing about Newman is that he is a "nice guy".  On and off the track.  Or so he appears to be.  Rarely is he in the news headlines for making someone mad or driving to aggressively.  He isn't one of these arrogant guys that wants to be interviewed 15 times a day or tries to make sure he is in the news all of the time.

 

I think he needs to be a little more aggressive.  He needs to get punt other cars out of the way sometimes like some other drivers do.  Don't get me wrong.  He will race hard and he won't always easily give up positions.  But I feel like he needs to be a little more "in-your-face" sometimes.

 

Good luck to Ryan for his 7th Sprint Cup season in 2008.

 

Mike

 

 

Newman’s turning point?

Below is a pretty good article that STEVE WAID wrote for SceneDaily.

 

While this is speculation, it could evolve into reality. The 2008 Sprint Cup season could be a pivotal one for Ryan Newman.

 

His contract with Penske Racing ends at the conclusion of the coming season, and, if things don't improve competitively, he might be tempted to move on.

Newman has been with Penske full time since 2002, and he was a winner three years. From 2002-2005, Newman won 12 races and accumulated 34 poles. He was firmly entrenched in NASCAR's upper echelon.

 

Funny how things can change.

 

Newman hasn't won a race in two years. In fact, he's had only nine finishes among the top five. He's not used to that sort of thing.

 

In 2006, he had only two top-five finishes and seven among the top 10. Things were better this year, with seven top-five finishes and 15 among the top 10.

 

Newman didn't make the Chase this season, but as it wound to a close, he had a string of good performances that helped elevate him to 13th in the final point standings.

Newman had four top-five finishes in the last seven races of the Chase, including three in the last five. He should have won the Bank of America 500 at Lowe's Motor Speedway, where he easily sped into the lead on a late restart – and was going away - but crashed due to a tire problem. He wound up 28th.

 

There have been some changes at Penske, notably among crew chiefs, intended to provide improvement. And while Newman did have it bit better this season than last, he still hasn't returned to winning form.

 

While it is simply conjecture, it's not hard to think Newman might listen to proposals from other teams should he go winless again in 2008. I think he'd be an attractive commodity.

 

But that might not mean anything if Newman becomes the old Newman in the new year.

 

 

3rd Annual Ryan Newman Foundation Charity Dinner & Auction on Friday, December 7, 2007

Sponsored by Alltel Wireless and Outback Steakhouse

 

WHEN:  6 to 8 PM, Friday, December 7, 2007  (Tickets ordered from today until December 5th will be held at the registration table to be picked up on December 7th.  Tickets will not be mailed after today.)

WHERE:  Mooresville, North Carolina

 

WHAT:  Ryan and Krissie Newman invite you to enjoy a delicious Outback Steakhouse dinner, meet and mingle with NASCAR drivers and pro fisherman in the Charles Mack Citizen Center ballroom in historic downtown Mooresville, NC. Charity auction items include autographed NASCAR and fishing memorabilia, and more! 

 

ATTIRE:  Business Casual

 

TICKETS:  $100 per person; $175 per cople; $5,000 Table Sponsorship (table of 8 at a reserved table--click here for a list of additional sponsorship benefits).  Seating is limited to 175 people so we can offer our guests an intimate setting that gives everyone a chance to meet our special guests.  Register today to reserve your ticket.

 

DETAILS:  For more information or to register online, visit Ryan Newman Foundation Events Web Page.

 

AUCTION ITEMS:  Autographed Tony Stewart Fire Suit, Autographed Ryan Newman Fire Suit, Autographed Kyle Petty Fire Suit, Autographed Ryan Newman #12 Sheet Meatl, Autographed Jimmie Johnson Championship Champagne, Autographed Martin Truex, Jr. memorabilia, Autographed Regan Smith Memorabilia, Autographed John Andretti Memorabilia, Autographed Ryan Newman Simpson Driving Gloves, Autographed Ryan Newman Simpson Driving Shoes, Autographed Ryan Newman Helmet Sheild, Autographed Ryan Newman #12 Alltel, Mobil 1, and Kodak 1:24 Limited Edition Die-Cast Cars and Ball Caps, Autographed Poster and CD, Autographed Orange County Choppers Memorabilia, Autographed Sports Memorabilia, and much, much more!!!

 

From - The Ryan Newman Foundation

2nd Annual Ryan Newman Foundation Charity Fishing Tournament on Saturday, December 8, 2007

THIS IS FROM THE RYAN NEWMAN FOUNDATION -

Due to the large amount of interest in our 2nd Annual Charity Fishing Tourney, we have extended the online registration until midnight on Friday, November 30th! Registration has been expanded to 250 teams this year. Guarantee your spot today by registering online. To register online with a credit card, click here.

 

Note:  FLW Outdoors will take walk-in registrations at the mandatory team check-in, which will be held at the Charles Mack Citzien Center in Mooresville, NC from 2 to 4:30 PM on Friday, December 7 at the late registration fee rates.  However, registration is first-come, first-serve, and if the tournament sells out before December 7th, fisherman will be turned away.  To guarantee your spot, register online today.

 

Ryan Newman, driver of Penske Racing's #12 Alltel Dodge, is inviting NASCAR fans and fisherman to join him and fellow NASCAR drivers Martin Truex, Jr. and Regan Smith, professional bass angler Kevin Van Dam, and Two Foot Fred from the Musik Mafia at the second annual Ryan Newman Foundation Charity Fishing Tournament sponsored by Ranger Boats on Saturday, December 8, 2007at Queen's Landing on Lake Norman in Mooresville , NC . 

 

Ryan Newman Foundation Charity Bass Tournament   Sponsored by Ranger Boats

 

WHEN:  7:30 AM - 3:00 PM, Saturday, December 8, 2007

 

WHERE:  Queen's Landing on Lake Norman in Mooresville, North Carolina

 

TICKETS:  Late Registration (after November 8) $200 per team; Big Fish Contest ($40 per team); Raffle Ticket ($5 per ticket)

To register online with a credit card, click here.

To register by mail with a check, visit Ryan Newman Foundation Events Web Page to download the registration form.

 

Bass Tournament (total weight - 5 fish per team); only largemouth and spotted bass may be weighed; minimum 14" length; only artificial lures are permitted. Complete rules will be mailed after pre-registration is processed.  The tournament will be facilitated by FLW Outdoors.

• Grand Prize is a 198VX Ranger Boat with a 200 HP Evinrude engine, Minn-Kota Maxxum 80 trolling motor, Humminbird 767 depth finder and single axle trailer (valued at $38,000)!   Other prizes include cash, trolling motors, GPS systems, depth finders, rods/reels, Alltel Wireless phones, Solar Batsunglasses, digital cameras & more!

• Raffle Prizes includes items from Evinrude, Ranger Boats, FLW Outdoors, Mobil 1, Alltel, Dick's Sporting Goods, NASCAR Memorabilia, Bill Dance Memorabilia, #12 Ryan Newman tee-shirts, die-cast cars, and more!  Buy your raffle tickets today online with a credit card or bring cash to the tournament team-check in.

Great Season for the Alltel Pit Crew

New Ryan Newman Crew Chief Update

 

The Following is an update from Jayski.com.  McCaulley will be taking over the crew chief position for the #12 Alltel Dodge.

 

McCually was Kurt Busch's Crew Chief for the 2006 season and the beginning of the 2007 season.  He had to take a leave of abscence in April of 2007 to care for his wife who is battling leukemia.  I don't know what his wife's status is.

 

Ryan Newman and Roy McCaulley have worked together before.  McCaulley was Newman's Busch series Crew Chief in 2006 when Newman won 6 out of nine of the Busch Series races that he competed in.

 

That alone gives me a little better feeling about the 2008 season with a new crew chief.  Forget the wins, just the fact that they have worked together before.  Then fact that they had great success is a huge plus.

 

McCaulley's bio is below in the Penske write up.

 

 

******************

THE FOLLOWING IS FROM PENSKE RACING.COM ON OCTOBER 2ND.

 

Roy McCauley is making a comeback as a crew chief, heading up Sam Hornish Jr.'s effort in the No. 06 Penske Truck Rental Dodge.

 

McCauley, who was previously the Miller Lite team¿s crew chief, became chief engineer of Penske Racing's NASCAR operation in December 2002. He also served as the crew chief for the organization's driver development team. In 2004, he oversaw the team that fielded a NEXTEL Cup car in four races one for Chad Blount and three for Travis Kvapil. In 2005, McCauley directed the Busch Series team that won six of the nine races in which it competed with driver Ryan Newman. He also was the crew chief for Kvapil's ARCA victory at Pocono.

 

McCauley says it was competition that attracted him to racing.

 

We could race shopping carts and I would still be a part of it, says McCauley, who was born March 10, 1970.

 

Even though McCauley didn't work in racing until he was an adult, his family was involved in the sport from the time he was an infant. McCauley¿s father, Kirk, raced in Late Model Sportsman and Late Model Stock events at short tracks in Maryland and Virginia in the late 1960s and early 70s. He then leased and operated the speedway in Beltsville, Md., from the mid to late 1970s.

 

McCauley graduated from the University of Maryland in 1992 with a degree in mechanical engineering. He entered racing in 1993 in the open-wheel ranks as a design engineer with Pat Patrick Racing. McCauley remained with the Indianapolis-based team for four years before moving to PacWest in 1998.

 

McCauley left PacWest and moved to PPI Motorsports as the race engineer in 2000 when PPI owner Cal Wells began fielding a team in NASCAR's Cup division.

 

Two years later McCauley joined Penske Racing's NASCAR operation as its head engineer. While serving in that capacity, McCauley oversaw a 17-person department that included 11 engineers, and was responsible for all of the operation's design work, aerodynamic and chassis development, component design, and simulation development.

 

McCauley and wife Amy reside in Sherrills Ford, N.C.

******************

THE FOLLOWING IS FROM JAYSKI.COM ON 11/17/07

 

UPDATE: been told that Mike Nelson will be in the front office overseeing the Cup side of the business and Roy McCaulley will be Ryan Newman's crew chief, and Matt Gimbel will be the interim crew chief for #77 Sam Horish Jr. until a permanent crew chief is chosen, then he will be the race engineer for #77 team. Also, been told that Penske Racing's Don Miller will retire.(11-27-2007)

Jayski.com is reporting that Penske may be shifting things around a bit.  They are reporting that Ryan Newman and the #12 Alltel Dodge team may have a new crew chief for the 2008 season.

 

Under current Crew Chief Mike Nelson, Ryan Newman and the #12 team had 5 DNF's due to engine related problems this year.  I also just kept getting the sense that Newman was never really happy with the way his car was set up - if any driver is ever really happy with it.

 

But I am not sure a crew chief change should be the answer.  In the last 16 races of the year the lowest RUNNING finish (no accidents or engine problems) was 16th.  He also only had 4 finishes outside the top 10 and 4 top 5 finishes.  In that same time frame he had 3 races end with engine problems and 3 ending with accidents.

 

All in all not bad.  I think swapping out crew chiefs could lead to another struggling year for Newman in 2008.  Even if it he is the best crew chief in the world, Newman and his crew chief are going to have to learn how to get along, how to talk and how to understand what the other one is saying.  It can take a little time to get adjusted to each other.

 

But this currently a rumor - I believe.  Here is the posting that Jayski.com has -

 

Crew Chief change at the #12? #77 needs one? hearing Roy McCauley take over as the crew chief for the #12 alltel Penske Racing team for driver Ryan Newman. McCauley started the 2007 season as Kurt Busch's crew chief in the #2 Dodge. Supposedly current #12 crew chief, Mike Nelson, will move over to a management position at Penske Racing. The crew chief job for the #77 team and driver Sam Hornish Jr. is supposedly open.(11-17-2007)

 

 

Ryan Newman's Catfish Recipe

FROM - Leather District Gourmet

Beer Battered Fried Catfish

The Ryan Newman Foundation, which was awarded $10,000 from the Catfish Institute for winning the NASCAR Cook-off, does a lot of great work to help animals. Anyone interested in learning more about catfish can visit The Catfish Institute. To find a restaurant nearby serving catfish, click here.

Ryan Newman's Catfish recipe was one of the first entries in our "Teach a Man to Fish" Sustainble Seafood Event.

Beer Battered Fried Catfish


1/2 cup unsifted all-purpose flour
1/2 cup cornstarch
2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon Everglade seasoning, optional
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon ground white pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground red pepper
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano leaves, crushed

3/4 cup room-temperature beer
1 large egg, lightly beaten
Vegetable oil
1 pound U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish fillets, cut into 3 to 4 inch strips
In a medium bowl, combine flour, cornstarch, Cajun seasoning, garlic powder, Everglades seasoning (if using), baking powder, paprika, white and red peppers and oregano. If not using Everglade seasoning, add 1/2 teaspoon salt. Whisk in beer and egg until smooth. Cover and refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours.

When ready to cook: In a deep skillet or large pan, pour vegetable oil to the depth of 3 inches; heat to 375°F. Stir batter and fold in catfish. When oil is hot, lift fish strips with tongs, draining excess batter; place catfish in oil several pieces at a time (do not over crowd). Fry until well browned on all sides, about 3 minutes. Remove to paper towels to drain. Keep warm, repeat with remaining catfish.

Newman feels good about rebounding from tough breaks

espn.com

It's a familiar and unsettling story for Ryan Newman.

Running in the top 10 two-thirds of the way through last Sunday's NASCAR Nextel Cup race at Atlanta, Newman's No. 12 Penske Dodge encounters engine trouble and he winds up finishing 37th.

Engine failures, flat tires, crashes and a multitude of gremlins. All have seemingly been constant companions since the 2004 season for a driver once considered a top star in the elite stock car series.

Newman won 35 poles and had 12 victories through 2005, his fourth full season in Cup races. Since then, there has been little to celebrate, other than an occasional pole for the guy whose consistent speed on qualifying day earned the nickname "Rocketman."

His last win came at New Hampshire in the fall of 2005, but a recent resurgence has raised a few eyebrows in the garage and done wonders for the 2002 Rookie of the Year's confidence.

In the three weeks before Atlanta, Newman had finishes of fifth at Talladega, 28th at Charlotte and second at Martinsville. He could just as easily have won all of them, including the Charlotte race where a blown tire knocked him out of the lead and sent his car into the wall with five laps remaining.

"The performance has been a lot better," Newman said. "It's all attributed to teamwork and just pure car performance -- that's the biggest thing. Everybody at the shop has done a great job to step up and be better.

"We had a big personnel change in the offseason, and that was hard to battle through. Secondly, the performance of the race car has improved dramatically in the last half of the season. Those three races we had a shot of winning in the last three laps. Not everybody can say that. Especially after a rebound, it's nice to be able to say that."

Although he missed out on the Chase for the championship for the second consecutive year and is currently 16th in the standings, Newman is feeling good about the present and the future heading into the final three events of 2007, starting with Sunday's race at Texas Motor Speedway.

He's even OK answering questions about not winning his most recent races.

"I'm glad we're rebounding to the point where we can talk about it," he said. "There's potential. We didn't have potential for a long time.

"Before this year, I lost a lot of confidence as a driver. I didn't lose any ability, but the confidence gives you that extra edge. The ability just allows you to do it and that confidence is what's helped me with my qualifying and getting better track position, which helps us all the way through the race."

Another big part of the resurgence is the rapport Newman has developed with teammate Kurt Busch, who replaced longtime NASCAR star Rusty Wallace in the team's No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge in 2006. It was no secret that Newman and Wallace did not get along and had little communication.

Busch made the 12-man Chase this year with his own late-season surge after Pat Tryson took over as his crew chief. And the friendship of the two drivers, as well as Tryson and Mike Nelson, Newman's crew chief, has made a difference.

"The relationship between Kurt and me has been good and I think, more importantly, the teams, the two crew chiefs, the race engineers, even down to the shock guys," Newman said. "I've seen Miller Lite shirts in my truck 100 times more this year than I have in the last six years put together. And vice versa."

Team owner Roger Penske likes what he is seeing from Newman.

"Ryan's a great race driver and it's just a matter of getting the right car under him," Penske said. "And I think he's got confidence now. He's had a couple of tough breaks with some engine issues. But, overall, I think we've got a solid guy there and you're going to see a great last couple of races."

Ryan Newman is building confidence after 2 years of on-track struggle

It's a familiar and unsettling story for Ryan Newman.

Running in the top 10 two-thirds of the way through last Sunday's NASCAR Nextel Cup race at Atlanta, Newman's No. 12 Penske Dodge encounters engine trouble and he winds up finishing 37th.

Engine failures, flat tires, crashes and a multitude of gremlins. All have seemingly been constant companions since the 2004 season for a driver once considered a top star in the elite stock car series.

Newman won 35 poles and had 12 victories through 2005, his fourth full season in Cup races. Since then, there has been little to celebrate, other than an occasional pole for the guy whose consistent speed on qualifying day earned the nickname "Rocketman."

His last win came at New Hampshire in the fall of 2005, but a recent resurgence has raised a few eyebrows in the garage and done wonders for the 2002 Rookie of the Year's confidence.

In the three weeks before Atlanta, Newman had finishes of fifth at Talladega, 28th at Charlotte and second at Martinsville. He could just as easily have won all of them, including the Charlotte race where a blown tire knocked him out of the lead and sent his car into the wall with five laps remaining.

"The performance has been a lot better," Newman said. "It's all attributed to teamwork and just pure car performance - that's the biggest thing. Everybody at the shop has done a great job to step up and be better.

"We had a big personnel change in the off-season, and that was hard to battle through. Secondly, the performance of the race car has improved dramatically in the last half of the season. Those three races we had a shot of winning in the last three laps. Not everybody can say that. Especially after a rebound, it's nice to be able to say that."

Although he missed out on the Chase for the championship for the second straight year and is currently 16th in the standings, Newman is feeling good about the present and the future heading into the final three events of 2007, starting with Sunday's race at Texas Motor Speedway.

He's even OK answering questions about not winning his most recent races.

"I'm glad we're rebounding to the point where we can talk about it," he said. "There's potential. We didn't have potential for a long time.

"Before this year, I lost a lot of confidence as a driver. I didn't lose any ability, but the confidence gives you that extra edge. The ability just allows you to do it and that confidence is what's helped me with my qualifying and getting better track position, which helps us all the way through the race."

Another big part of the resurgence is the rapport Newman has developed with teammate Kurt Busch, who replaced longtime NASCAR star Rusty Wallace in the team's No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge in 2006. It was no secret that Newman and Wallace did not get along and had little communication.

Busch made the 12-man Chase this year with his own late-season surge after Pat Tryson took over as his crew chief. And the friendship of the two drivers, as well as Tryson and Mike Nelson, Newman's crew chief, has made a difference.

"The relationship between Kurt and me has been good and I think, more importantly, the teams, the two crew chiefs, the race engineers, even down to the shock guys," Newman said. "I've seen Miller Lite shirts in my truck 100 times more this year than I have in the last six years put together. And vice versa."

Team owner Roger Penske likes what he is seeing from Newman.

"Ryan's a great race driver and it's just a matter of getting the right car under him," Penske said. "And I think he's got confidence now. He's had a couple of tough breaks with some engine issues. But, overall, I think we've got a solid guy there and you're going to see a great last couple of races."

Newman unconcerned about lack of attention

CONCORD, N.C. - Penske Racing's Ryan Newman stole the show with his fast qualifying lap Thursday night at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

Can he turn that into a win in tonight's Bank of America 500?

Newman plans to try. Outside the Chase For The Nextel Cup field, Newman has labored outside the spotlight for the last string of races. He says he doesn't mind - he just wants his team to perform well.

Right now, he's taking things one practice, one qualifying, one race at a time.

"I don't look at it that way," he said when asked about comparisons to the Chase drivers. "I think, from my standpoint and the team's standpoint, we have a job to do on qualifying nights. We have a job to do on race days and try to get the car right in practice. Today was all about doing what we had to do to be first.

"I don't look at it as what we need to do to create some fame, because we're not in the Chase or anything like that. It's just a matter of going out and getting the job done."

Bowyer and Newman will dish dirt tonight

Race week at Lowe's Motor Speedway kicks off tonight across the street from the 1.5-mile oval at The Dirt Track.

NASCAR drivers Clint Bowyer and Ryan Newman are among those scheduled to compete when 800-horsepower super late model stock cars from the World of Outlaws Late Model Series compete in the Jani-King Southern Showdown.

Gates open at 5 p.m. with practice laps beginning at 6:45 p.m. The top three in each of six heats, which begin at 7:30, advance to a 50-lap feature scheduled to begin just after 10 p.m.

Scott Bloomquist, who won The Dirt Track's first late model race in 2000 and has back-to-back $50,000 victories in the Colossal 100, is also entered. So is Jimmy Owens, who won the prestigious World 100 at Eldora Speedway.

Drivers will draw for positions in the feature, and if the winner's official entry form was submitted by Sept. 15, that driver will pick up a $10,000 first prize along with $1,000 multiplied by his starting spot. In effect, the winner could get $1,000 for every position gained.

NASCAR's Newman driving Mill Lake repairs

Ann Arbor News - Ann Arbor, Michigan
By - Judy McGovern

Bill Wells has long lamented the deterioration of the vintage camp facilities at Mill Lake in the Waterloo Recreation Area.

Built in the 1930s under Depression-era New Deal employment programs, the rustic cabins and lodges display craftsman-like details and were home to summer youth camps for generations.

But time has taken a toll on the cedar-shake roofs. The electrical service, plumbing and mess-hall kitchen all need attention.

And while Wells and other members of the Waterloo Natural History Association raise and contribute as much as $25,000 a year to provide recreation and education activities at the sprawling state park, the project is simply too big for the community group.

"It's a shame,'' says Wells, a Sylvan Township resident who taught an outdoor class for elementary school kids from nearby Chelsea at the Mill Lake Outdoor Center. "It's a beautiful location and a perfect place for kids.''

But as he strides through the tall grass that's grown between the clusters of cabins, Wells' dismay at roofs collapsed since his last visit is tempered by the knowledge that help is - unexpectedly - on the way.

NASCAR driver Ryan Newman and his wife, through the Ryan Newman Foundation, are leading an effort to put $500,000 into the facilities by next June. And another $3 million to $4 million will go into restoring all 14 structures at Mill Lake.

Yes, NASCAR.

And, no, Newman isn't a local guy.

But the South Bend native apparently does have fond memories of fishing with his grandfather in Michigan waters. And a fairly chance meeting between the popular driver and a staff member the Conservation Fund led to an initiative dubbed "racing for wildlife.''

That national conservation group contacted the state Department of Natural Resources looking for a project proximate to Michigan International Speedway, which was ready to pitch in, says Ron Olson, Ann Arbor's longtime parks and rec boss who now heads the DNR's parks and recreation bureau.

"We're working on ways to get kids and families back outdoors,'' Olson says. "When we explained the idea, the resources at Mill Lake - which has the water, trails and the Eddy Discovery Center nearby - and the historic and cultural significance of the cabins, the Newmans got excited about it. They came out to see it and fell in love with it.''

For their part, DNR and Conservation Fund officials are so in love with the philanthropy that they're suddenly fluent in NASCAR.

Newman, No. 12, has finished in the top 20 the past five years, says Olson, an MIS virgin until last month.

The collaboration does create unusual bedfellows, says Conservation Fund spokeswoman Kathryn Brown. "But,'' she says, "the NASCAR community loves outdoors. And if you talk about getting kids outside, we're all on the same page.''

Beyond Mill Creek, the goal is to launch similar projects across the country, she says. Newman and the Conservation Fund are working with other drivers and tracks to identify projects.

Back at Mill Lake, Wells points out an area that was a canoe launch and a large glacial bowl where weathered benches ring a campfire area that hasn't burned in many summers.

He and DNR staffer Matthew Millar, who's come to check on us, have an animated conversation about skat (too big for raccoon) and revel in the sight of leaves that pour down when a strong blast of wind shakes the trees.

"You see tons of turkey out here and loons, mink and deer,'' says Wells, a native Detroiter who was as a child, in the late 1950s, first exposed to the outdoors at a camp held at nearby Cedar Lake.

A tall guy with a bristly mustache, Wells teaches special education in Dexter. "I told the kids about what the Newmans are going to do,'' he says. His middle-schoolers corrected Wells, who had called the driver Randy instead Ryan, and they seemed to approve of the NASCAR connection.

Some kind of private-sector help was going to be necessary, says Wells, who - as he daydreamed about salvaging the property - had imagined a photography park with corporate sponsorship.

The disrepair doesn't leave much room for argument. And there are plenty of models, among them public radio, where sponsors and the public enjoy mutual benefits in such arrangements.

But there's nothing ungrateful about wondering how public parks - and other institutions - got to this point. Or whether, in the end, the Mill Lake Outdoor Center is more apt to resemble NPR or NASCAR.

Judy McGovern can be reached at 734-994-6863 or jmcgovern@annarbornews.com.

Newman added to entry list for dirt-track event at Charlotte

Nextel Cup series championship contender Clint Bowyer will join fellow Cup driver Ryan Newman in competing in the Oct. 10 Jani-King Southern Showdown at The Dirt Track @ Lowe's Motor Speedway. The World of Outlaws Late Model Series event kicks off Bank of America 500 Week and features a possible $30,000 first-place prize for the winner of the 50-lap feature. Prior to joining Richard Childress Racing in 2004, Bowyer won numerous races and championships on both dirt and paved short tracks in the Midwest, including the 2002 NASCAR Weekly Racing Series Midwest Region crown. The Jani-King Southern Showdown's unique format rewards the winner according to the number of positions advanced during the main event. The top-three finishers in each of the six heat races advance directly to the main event and they will draw for starting positions. If the driver who wins the 50-lap finale submitted an official entry form prior to Sept. 15, he will receive the $10,000 first-place prize along with an amount equal to $1,000 multiplied by his starting position. Other early entries for the Oct. 10 Jani-King Southern Showdown include Scott Bloomquist, Chub Frank, Jimmy Owens, Steve Francis, Josh Richards, Steve Shaver, Clint Smith, Earl Pearson Jr., Mike Balzano and Ricky Weeks. Tickets are available by calling the Lowe's Motor Speedway ticket office at 1-800-455-FANS.

Newman to host charity fishing tournament, gala

STATESVILLE, N.C. -- Fans of Nextel Cup Series driver Ryan Newman know that when he's not racing, the driver of Penske Racing's No. 12 Dodge likes to take a break from his fast-paced life by fishing. He is inviting NASCAR fans and fisherman to join him and fellow drivers Martin Truex, Jr. and Regan Smith at the second annual Ryan Newman Foundation Charity Fishing Tournament sponsored by Ranger Boats on Saturday, Dec. 8, 2007,at Queen's Landing on Lake Norman in Mooresville, N.C.

The foundation's weekend of charity events will be kicked off on the evening of Friday, Dec. 7, 2007, with the Ryan Newman Foundation's third annual Charity Dinner and Auction, which will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. ET at the Charles Mack Citizen Center in Mooresville, N.C., and is sponsored by Alltel and Outback Steakhouse. Guests will enjoy an Outback Steakhouse dinner and will have the opportunity to meet and mingle with NASCAR drivers and pro fisherman. Charity auction items will include autographed NASCAR memorabilia from Ryan Newman, Tony Stewart, Martin Truex, Jr., autographed sports memorabilia, rods and reels, outdoor sporting equipment and more.

"Conservation is very important to me, which is why my foundation has recently partnered with the Conservation Fund to develop a program we call Racing For Wildlife," Newman said. "Krissie and I want to be able to help more conservation groups, as well as animal welfare organizations, in the future. That is why we are building the Ryan Newman Foundation Endowment by raising funds with our special events. This year we decided to combine our two annual fundraisers into one fun weekend, so we're holding our charity dinner and auction on Friday night and our charity bass tournament the next day. We're excited about Ranger Boats' sponsorship of our tournament and their donation of the Ranger Boat as the grand prize again this year. It's a great boat."

The bass tournament will be facilitated by FLW Outdoors. Fishermen will compete for the grand prize of a 198VX Ranger Boat with a 200 HP Evinrude motor, Minn-Kota Maxxum 80 trolling motor, Humminbird 767 depth finder and single axle trailer valued at $38,000. Other prizes include cash awards, trolling motors, GPS systems, depth finders, rod and reel combos, digital cameras and more.

Registration in the bass tournament for a team of two fishermen is $150 on or before Nov. 8 or $200 after Nov. 8. Fisherman may also enter a Big Fish Contest for $40 per team. The maximum is 250 teams. For complete event details, tournament rules, to download a flier and registration form or to register online, visit www.ryannewmanfoundation.org. Those wishing to receive a printed registration form by mail should send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to Ryan Newman Foundation, Fishing Tournament Form Request, PO Box 5998, Statesville, NC 28687.

Tickets to the Ryan Newman Foundation Charity Dinner and Auction are $100 per person or $175 per couple. For complete event details, to download a ticket order form or to purchase tickets online, visit www.ryannewmanfoundation.org. To receive a ticket order form by mail, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to Ryan Newman Foundation, Charity Dinner Form Request, PO Box 5998, Statesville, NC 28687.

"Our charity dinner and auction and our fishing tournament are fun ways that NASCAR fans, fishermen, animal lovers and conservationists can get involved in making a difference by helping the Ryan Newman Foundation fulfill our mission," Krissie Newman said. "When we all come together for shared causes, we make a larger impact. We appreciate the support fans have given our foundation in the past. Their donations have made a big difference to humane societies, spay/neuter programs and conservation groups across the country."

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.

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.