Ryan Newman Results -3rd Practice For Pennsylvania 500

Ryan Newman and the #12 Mobil 1 Dodge team had their first practice at Pocono Raceway today for the NASCAR Nextel Cup Pennsylvania 500
Newman was 7 in practice with a speed of 163.812 mph / 54.941 sec.
Newman was -0.66 seconds behind the leader Jimmie Johnson who had a practice time of 165.804 / 54.281.


Qualifying Order

Practice 1 Results

Practice 2 Results

Practice 3 Results


Good luck to Ryan Newman and the #12 Mobil 1 Dodge Penske Racing Team in the Pennsylvania 500 at Pocono Raceway

With 6 races left, drivers aiming for Chase spots

LONG POND, Pa. (AP) - Kurt Busch should be the driver that everyone outside the top 12 is pursuing for the final spot in the Chase.

Instead, the former Nextel Cup champion is the one lagging behind.
When Busch was docked 100 points for reckless driving in early June at Dover, the penalty plummeted him six spots and out of a place for the 12-car, 10-race Chase for the Nextel Cup championship.

Those points could now deny him a chance to race for the title.

"Yeah, that's what everybody will write about if we don't make it," Busch said. "There's been times where we've let quite a few points get away from us. Hopefully the 100 from Dover won't come into play."

Busch is one of a handful of drivers vying to claim one of the few slots up for grabs in a six-race stretch that stars in Sunday's 500-mile race at Pocono Raceway and ends at Richmond. The final six races of the 26-race regular-season put the drivers, their fans and everyone in the sport on edge about how it will all end.

"It's real nerve-racking," said Clint Bowyer, who is in 10th. "It's up to us to ensure that we're in it."

For drivers at the bottom of the top 12 like Martin Truex Jr. (11th) or Dale Earnhardt Jr. (12th), this stretch is like the college basketball conference tournaments: Win and you're in. Lose and, well, you'll need some help.

"I think everyone's on the Chase bubble," Truex said.

Had Busch not been docked those 100 points for reckless driving and endangering one of Tony Stewart's crew members on pit road, he would have 2,304 points, enough to bump Earnhardt (2,217) outside the top 12.

Busch fell from 11th to 17th in the Chase standings after NASCAR penalized him, and has since worked his way back to 13th on the strength of five top-10 finishes in the seven races since Dover. Busch is followed by Ryan Newman (59 points out of the Chase), Jamie McMurray (113) and Greg Biffle (128), all legitimate contenders to catch Earnhardt, Truex and Bowyer.

Even Jimmie Johnson, once considered a lock for the Chase, has put himself in a vulnerable position by dropping from fourth to ninth in the past three races.

"There is a concern. We don't want to be in this situation," said Johnson, who swept Pocono in 2004.

Perhaps it's a coincidence, but the drivers in the hunt for those spots all had strong qualifying efforts for the Pennsylvania 500. Earnhardt took his first pole since 2002 and Busch will join him on the front row. Newman was fourth and Johnson seventh.

"I think most of the teams are hitting their peak and everyone's running strong," Busch said. "Whoever gets the most consistent finishes will be in the Chase."

Truex and Earnhardt, DEI teammates, would have been fighting to make the Chase under the old rules. But the field was expanded this season from 10 to 12 drivers.

Earnhardt believes his final season with Dale Earnhardt Inc. will end with a spot in the Chase.

"I feel like we're not a 12th-place team. We're a fifth-place team, if not even more successful than that," Junior said. "I still feel like we'll make the Chase with ease because we're such a good team. If we don't make the Chase, I'll be the most surprised person, not only in this room, but in this garage, because I feel totally confident that we've got control of it and can get it done."

"We know exactly how far we're behind and who we're tied with and in front of," said Denny Hamlin, in second. "We're aware of it, but we're not overly concerned with it. We can't be going crazy over 10 points here and there because if it affects your performance and kills your momentum going into the Chase, it's not going to matter anyway."

Ryan Newman Results -2nd Practice For Pennsylvania 500

Ryan Newman and the #12 Mobil 1 Dodge team had their first practice at Pocono Raceway today for the NASCAR Nextel Cup Pennsylvania 500.

Newman was 3rd in practice with a speed of 166.055 mph / 54.199 sec.

Newman was -0.072 seconds behind the leader Kurt Busch who had a practice time of 166.276 / 54.127.

Penske is really on their game here. Kurt Bush has been the fastest in practice for the first 2 practice session. Newman improved from 3rd to sixth. Busch has qualified in 2nd and Newman in 4th. Newman will be starting right behind his teammate. And they run good when they are running together.

Qualifying Order
Practice 1 Results
Practice 2 Results

Good luck to Ryan Newman and the #12 Mobil 1 Dodge Penske Racing Team in the Pennsylvania 500 at Pocono Raceway

Can Pocono II Bring Newman A Win?

I don't see why not! Newman runs good at Pocono. At the first Pocono race this year he was just about to take first place away from Gordon when the caution fell for rain and the race was eventually canceled after that caution.

He grabbed the pole postition for that race and is starting this one in 4th. He also practiced with speeds in the top 10 for that race and looks like he is going to do the same for this race.

Newman has a win at Pocono, 5 Top 5's out of 11 races. No excuses Newman, this is your week.

Busch Qualifies 2nd; Newman To Start 4th In Pennsylvania 500

LONG POND, Pa. (Aug. 3, 2007) For the second time this year, rain interfered with a Penske Racing driver emerging in the No. 1 position at Pocono Raceway, as Kurt Busch was bumped from the pole for Sunday's Pennsylvania 500 after a shower interrupted qualifying on Friday.

Busch, who snared the provisional pole in his Miller Lite Dodge Charger with a 52.984-second, 169.863-mph lap, possessed the top starting spot until there were nine drivers left to qualify. Rain began falling during Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s qualifying lap and NASCAR officials ruled he could make another timed run if time trials resumed. With a clean, cooler track, Earnhardt Jr. pushed his car to a lap 0.035-second faster than Busch on the 2.5-mile, triangular-shaped track.

"I thought there might be somebody that would sneak out there and get it," Busch said. "If it would have rained out qualifying, we would have been bumped all the way to 14th. To be outside pole is great and gives us the chance to be towards the front.

"Track position is very important at Pocono. We're happy to be outside pole and have a shot to get those elusive five points for leading a lap. Big picture is what we¿re racing for right now [a position in the title chase].

In June, Ryan Newman was relegated to a second-place finish in the Pocono 500 when it began raining just as Newman passsed Jeff Gordon for the lead.

For a brief time Friday, Busch and Newman shared the front row, but Busch's younger brother, Kyle, bumped Newman to third by 0.014 second. He was relegated to fourth, directly behind his Penske Racing teammate, when Earnhardt Jr. made his qualifying run.

"I just missed a little bit on my lap, but it was still a good effort by the Mobil 1 Dodge team and we'll have a good car on Sunday, as well, Newman said after his 53.023-second, 169.738-mph lap in his Mobil 1 Dodge Charger. We're running the same car that we had in June, so we know that this car is good at Pocono. I don't think we have a ton of work to do on the car before Sunday, but we¿ll tweak it a little during tomorrow's [Saturday] practice sessions and get it as close to perfect as we can for Sunday. I just hope the rain holds off this time.

Sunday's Pennsylvania 500 will be televised by ESPN and broadcast by MRN Radio starting at 1 p.m.

Ryan Newman Results -Qualifying For The Pennsylvania 500

Ryan Newman has qualified 4th for the Pennsylvania 500 at the Pocono Raceway. Newman had a speed of 169.738 / 53.023 / -0.074.
Newman was -0.074 seconds behind the Pole setter Dale Earnhardt Jr. who had a qualifying time of 169.975 / 52.949.


Qualifying Order

Practice 1 Results

Good luck to Ryan Nemwan and the #12 Mobil 1 Dodge Penske Racing Team in the Pennsylvania 500 at Pocono Raceway

Earnhardt Jr. wins his first Nexel Cup pole since 2002

LONG POND, Pa. (AP) -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. ended a stretch of nearly five years without qualifying in first thanks in part to a well-timed rain shower.

Earnhardt won his first pole since September 2002 with a lap of 169.975 mph and took the top spot Friday at Pocono Raceway, a huge benefit for a driver clinging to the final spot in the Chase.

"I try to get them man, but they're hard to get," he said. "I don't put a lot of emphasis on poles. I probably do that that because I don't get them so often."

His lap after a 45-minute rain delay nudged Kurt Busch into second with a lap of 169.863 and Kyle Busch was third at 169.782. Earnhardt guessed his car would have qualified between fifth and 12th had it not rained.

Earnhardt had just put his No. 8 Chevrolet on the track for his qualifying lap for Sunday's 500-mile race when it started raining. Once it stopped, Earnhardt took advantage of the cooler temperature and raced to his seventh career pole and first since Sept. 29, 2002 at Kansas Speedway -- a span of 171 races.

Now all he needs is a win. Earnhardt has been without a victory since May 2006 at Richmond.

"Qualifying and racing are two different things," Earnhardt said. "Qualifying takes a different kind of discipline, takes a lot of guts."

Earnhardt needs all the strong finishes he can get in the final six races of the Nextel Cup "regular season." He holds the 12th and final spot for the 10-race Chase. He has a 36th- and 34th-place finish in two of his last three races, and more results like that will hurt his chances significantly.

"The one thing you do feel is more of a loss of confidence," Earnhardt said. "I feel like we keep the momentum by keeping the good attitude."

Kyle Busch trails Junior by 13 points for 12th place. Kurt and Kyle Busch each have four top-five starts this season.

Ryan Newman and Kasey Kahne rounded out the top five. Points leader Jeff Gordon was 11th.

"I think I gave it up," Newman said. "I just didn't push quite hard enough in turn three. I was more worried about the car stepping out then I was pushing it fast."

Ryan Newman Results -1st Practice For Pocono 500

Ryan Newman and the #12 Alltel Dodge team had their first practice at Pocono Raceway today for the NASCAR Nextel Cup Pocono 500.

Newman was 6 in practice with a speed of 167.221 mph / 53.821 sec.



Newman was -0.419 seconds behind the leader Kurt Busch who had a practice time of 168.533 / 53.402.


Practice 1 Results

Good luck to Ryan Newman and the #12 Alltel Dodge Penske Racing Team in the Pocono 500 at Pocono Raceway

Ryan Newman Leaving Penske - Going To Gibbs?

Where did this rumor get started?

 

Now I hear (or read) that he may be going to Gibbs.

 

Once again I saw that the Winston-Salem Jounal posted that he was "up in the air".  Here is the blurb that they posed -

 

 'Ryan Newman's future continues to be a question mark in the NASCAR garage, and it's not clear if he will be back with car owner Roger Penske next season. If not, Newman could become a candidate for the fourth Richard Childress team." HERE

 

My question is - "Where did this come from"?  And this article says RCR???

 

I have seen this article refferenced many times, but I can not find where this information has come from.  I have heard Newman say that he is NOT planning on going anywhere.  I heard him on his podcasts say this and I am pretty sure I heard him say it in an interview as well.  Yes, I know these people will say whatever they have to at the time in order to make a deal work, BUT, I still can not find anything as to where this "rumor" even go started.

 

OH WELL!!

 

Oh yeah, I am also looking for information on how exactly these Sponsor/Owner/Driver contracts work.  Anybody??

 

Mike

New Ryan Newman Podcast - After The Brickyard

08.01.07 Newman, Alltel Team Start 3rd and Finish 42nd after early accident at the historical Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Driver of the No. 12 Alltel Dodge Ryan Newman and XM Satellite Radio Host Claire B. Lang catch up to recap last week's race at the prestigious Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

They also chat about Newman's workout regimen. In addition, Newman provides fans an inside look at how he spent his time in Indiana, as well as answers questions from the Alltel All Axcess Racing Mailbag.

Finally, Newman talks about the upcoming race at Pocono Raceway, where the team hopes to find victory lane after finishing second there earlier this season.

NASCAR, AT&T continue court battle

What I find funny is that Sprint/Nextel is doing the same thing.  Sprint bought, merged, whatever with Nextel.  Sprint......Nextel........same thing, same company.  So now obviously they want to start dropping the Nextel name.  That is why we are looking at the Sprint Cup....which by the way, I don't care for that name at all.  I think of smaller race cars.

 

Now AT&T bought Cingular,  basically.  So they (AT&T) are in the mist of dropping the Cingular name and going with AT&T across the board.  Smart move if you ask me.  So soon there won't be a Cingualr name out there, there will only be AT&T.  So there is no other name to put on the car other than AT&T.  And by the way, they were smart signing a new deal as soon NASCAR came back at them with a law suite.

 

Why isn't NASCAR suing Nextel......uhhhmmm I mean Sprint.  Didn't NASCAR make original contracts and what not with NEXTEL.  HMMM.  (yes that was sarcasim).

 

Anyway, the news story follows:

 

 

 

 

NASCAR and AT&T go back to court this week, at odds over the paint scheme on Jeff Burton's No. 31 Chevrolet. But the larger issue of exclusivity in the wireless category will loom over the proceedings.

Sprint Nextel, NASCAR's top series sponsor, bought the largest sports sponsorship ever sold, exclusivity included, and has spent close to $100 million a year since 2004. Cingular and Alltel were allowed to stay as team sponsors under certain restrictions.

But in a preliminary injunction ruling in May, a judge said AT&T could replace Cingular on the No. 31 Nextel Cup car because the restriction on rebranding wasn't spelled out in NASCAR's contract with Richard Childress Racing.

Those in the industry said it was widely known that Cingular and Alltel could not rebrand if one of them merged with another company in the volatile telecom world. But NASCAR didn't put it in writing, so AT&T's blue globe has been on the hood of the orange No. 31 for the past two-plus months.

USA Today - Ryan Newman Team Notes

 

No. 12 Dodge, Penske Racing

 

This week:  Newman was in the midst of trying to pass Jeff Gordon for the lead when the rains came in June at Pocono. When the race was called after only 106 laps, Newman ended up second. He will be driving the same car, which also won the pole for the June race.

 

Last week:  Newman spun and slammed into the fourth-turn wall on lap 20 of the 160-lap Brickyard event and finished 42nd to drop to 14th in the standings. "I just got hit in the left rear quarter panel," said Newman. "(David) Stremme tried sticking it underneath me when he shouldn't have and spun us around. We took a pretty good lick."

 

Etc.:  Newman knows he was "very fortunate at Indy to have only lost a little ground to the 12th-place driver (Dale Earnhardt, Jr., who finished 34th after suffering engine failure)." Newman trails Earnhardt by 49 points with only six races left until the Chase. Newman had pulled to within 30 points of 12th place before Indy.

Ryan Newman And Kurt Busch Have Their Teams Moving In The Right Direction

Aug 01, 2007

Kurt Busch (No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge) and Penske Racing teammate Ryan Newman (No. 12 Mobil 1 Dodge) have their teams moving in the right direction in the series standings currently 13th and 14th respectively. Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 8 Budweiser Chevrolet) sits on the bubble, 13 points ahead of Busch and 59 ahead of Newman. Neither Newman nor Busch made the Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup last season.

 

But this season may be a different story. Newman heads to Pocono with a 2003 win at the track and five top-five finishes, including a runner-up finish earlier this season. Newman - a. k.a 'the Rocket' - also has been known to put the No. 12 Dodge on the pole at Pocono, notching two in his career, including earlier this season. Busch has less ground to make up than his teammate, and he, too, has had success at Pocono with a win in 2005 and six top fives.

Earnhardt Jr. will have to be on his toes because the competition is closing in. This race could be the one Penske Racing uses to make a move because Earnhardt has only three top-five finishes in 15 starts at Pocono.

Alltel Wireless and Ryan Newman invite Rapid City resident to ‘Go Racing’

RAPID CITY, S.D. – Today, Jimmie Funell of Rapid City, S.D. received the surprise of a lifetime at an Alltel Wireless retail store in Rapid City, S.D., when race car driver Ryan Newman invited him to 'Go Racing.'

As part of the surprise, Alltel Wireless, America's largest network, and Newman provided Funell with an all-expense-paid trip for two to Bristol, Tenn. to attend the race weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway, August 25-26, 2007. To add to the VIP experience, Funell will have a very personal reason to cheer the No. 12 Alltel team to victory lane, as his name will appear on the Alltel Dodge that weekend.

"Alltel is dedicated to providing our customers with unmatched personalized experiences," said Frank O'Mara, executive vice president of marketing for Alltel Wireless. "This racing initiative is a great way to thank our customers and reward them for choosing Alltel as their wireless provider. We hope to celebrate with both Ryan and Jimmie in the winner's circle."

Newman has made previous unannounced stops at retail stores in Albuquerque, N.M., Augusta, Ga., Kannapolis, N.C., Raleigh, N.C., and Tampa, Fla., to award customers with trips to 'Go Racing.'

"It was as much a rush for me as it was for Jimmie when I gave him the good news from Alltel that he was chosen for this opportunity," said Newman. "Hopefully the addition of his name to the paint scheme will help take the No. 12 Alltel Dodge to Victory Lane."

Funell, who stopped by the Alltel retail store to see the No. 12 Alltel Dodge show car, was thrilled with the surprise visit by Newman.

"This is truly a dream come true. I just went to the store to see the show car and possibly upgrade my phone, so I didn't expect to receive anything, let alone meet racecar driver Ryan Newman," said Funell. "I can't wait for my friends and family to see my name on the No. 12 Alltel Dodge as Ryan races around the track at 120 miles per hour."

To find out where the No. 12 Alltel Dodge will make its next pit stop, and for more information on Ryan Newman and the Alltel Race Team, please visit www.alltelracing.com.

Alltel Wireless offers exclusive features including "My Circle," allowing customers to choose who they call for free – any 10 numbers, any network; Anytime Plan Changes, giving customers the flexibility to change their rate plan any time, without extending their contract and Celltop, Alltel's exclusive, patent-pending technology providing customers an easier way to access, manage and organize a wide range of information already available on their phones.

ESPN Analyst Andy Petree on Pocono Raceway

Q - What makes Pocono Raceway such a difficult track for drivers and race teams?

Petree - "That track is the most unique track on the circuit because it has three distinct turns. You've got a real tight turn on one end, a real broad turn on the other, and you've got this huge, long straightaway. You've got all these factors that come into play, and from a crew chief's standpoint there are a lot of things you can play with.

"The brakes are going to be a big issue at Pocono. You're going so fast down that front straightaway, and you've got to slow down to make that Turn 1. You're probably going 200 mph, and that's a lot of speed to bleed off. You used to do it by downshifting and using your brakes, and they had big spoilers for a lot of drag on the aero. Now they've got tiny spoilers, and they can't downshift anymore. The only way to slow the cars down now is with the brakes, and they are really being pushed to the limit."

 

Q - What should viewers watch for at Pocono?

Petree - "Watching them come down that front straightaway, fanning out sometimes four- or five-wide. It's incredible how wide that front straightaway is, and watching those guys using the draft and jockeying for position trying to gain an advantage is really exciting to see."

NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Action live on ESPN from Pocono Raceway presented by Rush Hour 3

ESPN's coverage from Pocono Raceway will include live coverage of NASCAR NEXTEL Cup qualifying at 3:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 3, and Happy Hour final practice at 11 a.m. Saturday. Two-time NASCAR champion crew chief Andy Petree will work in the ESPN booth for the telecasts, joined by Rusty Wallace, ESPN's lead auto racing analyst and the 1989 NASCAR Cup Series champion. Dr. Jerry Punch will handle play-by-play. Pit reporters will be Dave Burns, Jamie Little, Mike Massaro and Shannon Spake. Two-time NASCAR champion crew chief Tim Brewer will report from the ESPN DISH Tech Center with the ESPN Chevy Cutaway Car. ESPN's Suzy Kolber will host NASCAR Countdown at Pocono, joined by analyst Brad Daugherty in the ESPN Pit Studio.

[ESPN]

Stewart vs. Petty profanity

Brad from Shelbyville, Ky.: Why would NASCAR fine Tony Stewart for a bad word? Kyle Petty said a bad work on national TV during the race at Sonoma, Calif. NASCAR did nothing to him. All drivers should be treated equal.

Larry McReynolds: NASCAR is treating all drivers equal. They docked Stewart 25 points just like the took 25 points away from Dale Earnhardt Jr. after his post-race profanity following the 2004 Talladega fall race. We knew that was going to happen. (Editor's note: In addition to the point penalties, which were the same, Stewart was fined $25,000 while Dale Jr. was fined $10,000.)

Kyle Petty did not say something bad on national television; it was a mistake on the network's part. Obviously, the network sat down with NASCAR and explained the whole situation. What you heard was a replay that was run two or three laps after that incident. Unfortunately, someone played the audio with the replay. For that reason, you're comparing an apple to a green bean. A bad word went over the air, but it wasn't live. It was totally a mistake on the network's part.

The Allstate 400 at the Brickyard was on cable, and there are a lot of rules and regulations about cable that I don't understand. But I don't know that the FCC had a problem with it because it was on cable, but NASCAR doesn't care whether it's on over-the-air television or cable. They're just trying to stay as consistent as possible. Points are a moot point right now for Stewart. If he ends up missing the Chase by less than 25 points, we'll realize that it was pretty important. The way the Chase for the Nextel Cup and the bonus points system are structured, Stewart just needs to stay in the top 12. He's safely in there, and he's seeded 3rd because he's got two wins with 20 bonus points.

Indianapolis Fines - Greg Biffle

NASCAR announced today that Greg Biffle has been fined $5,000 and placed on probation until Dec. 31, for failing to fulfill his post-race media obligations this past Saturday night, following the NASCAR Busch Series race at O'Reilly Raceway Park in Indianapolis.

Biffle was found to be in violation of Sections 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and 12-4-H (violation of sub-section 7-2B: Failure to meet obligation of an accepted entry).
Biffle, driver of the No. 16 Ford, finished second in the event. In addition to the winning driver, second- and third-place finishers, plus the highest-finishing rookie of the year candidate must report for post-race interviews.

Also, two NASCAR Busch Series crew chiefs have been fined $5,000 and placed on probation until Dec. 31 due to violations at Indianapolis:

Indianapolis Fines - Tony Stewart

Tony Stewart was fined $25,000 and docked 25 points by NASCAR on Tuesday for cursing during his television interview after his win at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Stewart, who had just scored his second victory in three years at his hometown race track, was soaking up the adoration from the throng of orange-clad fans when he dedicated the win to them.
"This one's for every one of those fans in the stands who pull for me every week and take all the (expletive) from everybody else," he said.

The curse came on ESPN's first Nextel Cup broadcast since 2000.

NASCAR, which called the language inappropriate and said Stewart's actions were detrimental to stock car racing, also docked car owner Joe Gibbs 25 points. It follows a precedent that started in 2002, when crew chief Chad Knaus was penalized for cursing on TV.

The penalties escalated over the next few seasons, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. was knocked out of the points lead when he was docked 25 points for cursing after his 2004 win at Talladega.

The penalty doesn't hurt Stewart in the standings. He is currently fifth in the points, and the deduction didn't drop him.

But sixth-place Carl Edwards is now only 17 points away from him. The top 12 drivers in the standings after the Sept. 8 race in Richmond make the Chase for the championship.

The curse spoiled ESPN's return to NASCAR. Stewart is feuding with the network, which criticized him two weeks ago for saying he was going to drink a case of beer to celebrate his July 15 win in Chicago.

An ESPN analyst said later that Stewart was not a good role model, and Stewart has been reluctant to do interviews with its announcers. He participated in the post-race interview at the finish line, but it ended after he used the expletive.

He later criticized the network when asked if he would be celebrating the Indy win with another case of beer.

"I don't want anybody from ESPN talking about how irresponsible I am, even though it's legal to do everything I did," he said. "Heaven forbid you actually have fun in life."

Inside the Garage: No. 12 crew chief Mike Nelson

Mike Nelson is the crew chief for Ryan Newman's No. 12 Dodge, which nearly won the Pocono 500 in June. Newman was in the process of making a pass for the lead when heavy rain halted the race at the 106-lap mark.

Knowing they had a car capable of breaking Newman's 59-race winless streak, Nelson says his team is excited to make the return trip to the Pocono Mountains, considering they are bringing the same car back to the track.

Penske Racing

Mike Nelson

Q: To the average fan, Indianapolis and Pocono look like identical tracks. But to a crew chief, is that really the case?

Nelson: I don't think so. There are some similarities. Turn 2 at Pocono is somewhat similar to the corners here at Indy. Other than that, I consider them two totally different racetracks.

Q: What unique characteristics does Pocono have?

Nelson: Turn 1 at Pocono is unique. It's not anything like what you see here [at Indy]. It's pretty bumpy and it's a banked corner. The other corners are relatively flat. That's what makes Pocono unique. It's a unique track and we always have a lot of fun with it. It's been a good track for us.

Q: Is the most difficult thing about Pocono having to compromise the setup to make the car work in all three corners?

Nelson: Well, you do hear that a lot and it's true to some extent. But I guarantee you; everyone in the garage area tries to make all three corners perfect. That's what we work at.

Q: Is there one of the corners that's more critical than the others?

Nelson: You've got Turn 3, which leads to the frontstretch. That's important because you need to get a good run coming down the frontstretch. Most people work really hard on making sure that's a good point in your program. All corners are important, though. If you can get through all three better than everyone else, you've really got something.

Q: When you run as well as you did there last month, does your confidence carry over to the next race?

Nelson: Yeah, for sure. Denny Hamlin won both races there last year. We're taking the same car we had back there the first race and we're looking forward to going back.

 

nascar.com

Can Ryan Newman Still Make The Chase?

59 points away from 12^th – 6 races to go. 

 

 It is possible, but it seems that every time Newman gets close to that 12^th position, he falls back again.  Starting with race #10 at Richmond, Newman broke the 20^th position and has stayed above 20^th since then.  After Richmond he was in the 19^th position.  The following week he fell to 18^th.  The next 3 weeks he advanced to 18^th, then 15^th and then up to 13^th.  After that he dropped to 15^th then bounced around 13^th and 14^th up until now where he is sitting in 14^th. 

 

Not once this season has he broke into 12^th position.  Most of his "bad" races have not been his fault or his crews.  He has had engine trouble and accidents that have left him with some disappointing finishes.

 

Newman's stats this season are not awful.  They are by no means great either.  20 races into the season he has 4 poles (one of which he had to start in the rear of the field because of an engine), 0 wins, 3 top 5's and 8 top 10's.  The numbers that don't look all that great include an average starting position of 14.8 and an average finish of 19.9. 

 

Can Newman make the chase?  Yes it is possible especially if some of the people in the top 12 don't do so good.  Jimmy Johnson keeps sliding back, but probably won't be a factor.  Dale Earnhardt JR is a good example.  Last weekend at Indianapolis he blew and engine.  His bad day saved Newman from dropping off even further from 12^th and helped his team mate Kurt Busch move up to only 13 points away from 12^th. 

 

JR's teammate Martin Truex JR is 118 points ahead of JR in 11^th.  So he is feeling a LITTLE secure and having a good season.  Right now 12^th place is between Dale Earnhardt JR, Kurt Busch and Ryan Newman for this upcoming week at Pocono.  McMurray is another 54 points behind Newman putting him 113 points away from 12th position. And in all reality, it is probaby just between Busch and Earnhardt JR for this week.

 

Luckily, Newman is better at Pocono than Busch or Earnhardt JR.  Newman has an average finish at Pocono of 14.2 compared to Earnhardt JR's 18.3 and Busch's 15.7.  Both Newman and Busch have a win here and Newman has 5 Top'5 and Top 10's compared to Busch's 6 Top 5's and Top 10's.  Also Newman placed second in the race earlier this year and looked very strong when the race was canceled due to rain.

 

Basically a lot can happen in 6 races and 59 points is not hard to make up.  If Newman does crack the top 12 this season, now is the time to do it.

 

 

-Mike