Race Weekend Central

Thinkin’ Out Loud: Ryan Newman Stretches Tires to Douse Winless Drought in Phoenix

Who’s in the headline – Ryan Newman won the 2013 Brickyard 400 before he was released by Stewart-Haas Racing. He has managed several third-place finishes, but only one runner-up since. In typical Newman fashion, he stayed out on a late-race caution with old tires and managed to hold off Kyle Larson to steal the victory. …

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Up to Speed: Ryan Newman, the Veteran

In November 2000 at Phoenix International Raceway, Ryan Newman made his first start in what is now known as the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.  His engine expired after 176 laps, leading to a 41st-place finish.  Newman was 22 years old when he ran that race. Austin Dillon was eight years old and Kyle Larson …

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Grainger Re-ups with Richard Childress Racing and Ryan Newman

Ryan Newman Indianapolis 2016 Cup Mike Neff

On Tuesday, Richard Childress Racing announced a multi-year contract extension with Grainger that will see the industrial supply company continue to serve as a sponsor on Ryan Newman‘s No. 31 Chevrolet.  The team’s press release does not indicate how many races that Grainger will serve as the primary sponsor this season.  However, Grainger’s first race …

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Kevin Harvick Earns First Stewart-Haas Pole with Ford at Atlanta

2016 Pocono Ii Cup Kevin Harvick Helmet Logan Whitton Nkp

(Photo: Logan Whitton/NKP)

Stewart-Haas Racing and Ford are sure off to a flying start to the 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season. Kevin Harvick won the pole for Sunday’s Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, this coming a week after teammate Kurt Busch’s Daytona 500 victory. For Harvick, the pole is the 18th of …

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2016 NASCAR Rewind: Ryan Newman

2016 Cup Talladega Ryan Newman Zach Catanzareti

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Ryan Newman spent the early part of his NASCAR career demonstrating why his nickname Rocket Man was an appropriate moniker. But lately, it seems such descriptions aren’t as fitting as they once were. Such was the case yet again for Newman in 2016. After participating in the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship each of …

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Ryan Newman Leads Opening Cup Practice At Homestead

Ryan Newman

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Championship 4? Chase contender? Ryan Newman was never close to either this season, but that didn’t stop the veteran from leading the field during an uneventful NASCAR Sprint Cup Series opening practice at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Newman, posting a speed of 175.387 mph, led the way in his No. 31 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet and now …

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Who’s Hot & Who’s Not in NASCAR: Rainy Nights Edition

2016 Nascar Sprint Cup Series, Texas

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

Sometimes the rain taketh away and sometimes it giveth. Carl Edwards was glad to be on the good side of that precipitation equation in what turned out to be a Sunday night race at Texas Motor Speedway following rain and a slow-drying track. With his victory, Edwards has joined Jimmie Johnson to make up two of …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: Carl Edwards Saves Best for Last to Win at Texas

2016 Nascar Sprint Cup Series, Texas

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

Who’s in the headline – While Carl Edwards will garner most of the headlines for the weekend, it was Mother Nature who took most of the attention. The race was delayed by five-and-a-half hours due to track drying efforts that seemed to make progress at a snail’s pace. Once the race began, the sun had …

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Did You Notice? … NASCAR Silly Season Isn’t All That Silly?

Did You Notice? … That with Ryan Newman‘s signing Monday, the veteran reaching a contract extension with Richard Childress Racing 2016 has become the quietest Silly Season in the modern era? Other than a retiring Tony Stewart, whose replacement (Clint Bowyer) was announced late last season, it’s possible we won’t have a single change among any of the major programs for …

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5 Points to Ponder: Ryan Newman’s Contract Extension Cements Role At RCR

2016 Indianapolis Cup Ryan Newman Brett Moist Nkp

(Photo: Brett Moist/NKP)

ONE: Talladega Looms Large If you watched the race broadcast this past Sunday, you couldn’t have failed to miss the fact that a number of the Chasers had trouble during the race. Specifically: Kevin Harvick, Joey Logano, Denny Hamlin, Austin Dillon and Chase Elliott. It was a theme that was hammered home all day long …

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Ryan Newman Re-signs with Richard Childress Racing

2016 Indianapolis Cup Ryan Newman Brett Moist Nkp

(Photo: Brett Moist/NKP)

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series veteran Ryan Newman will return to Richard Childress Racing in 2017, shutting down rumors he would not return to the seat of the No. 31 Chevrolet. Newman, 38, has signed a multiyear deal with the organization and the team’s longtime sponsor, Caterpillar. “Ryan’s consistency on the track has been a benefit …

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Double Take: Yes, There Is Life Outside of the Chase

2016 Indianapolis Cup Ryan Blaney Brett Moist Nkp

(Photo: Brett Moist/NKP)

Much of the conversation in NASCAR right now is focused on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Chase field, and rightfully so. After all, one of those 16 drivers will end the season with the series championship at Homestead-Miami Speedway. But hey, look, there are still 24 other drivers who will take the green flag in Sunday’s race …

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