Ryan Newman is 80/1 to win 2020 All-Star Race at Bristol

Team: No. 6 Oscar Mayer Ford Mustang
Crew Chief: Scott Graves
Twitter: @Roush6Team, @RoushFenway and @RyanJNewman
Race Format: 140 laps, Stage Lengths: 55-35-35-15
NASCAR All-Star Race – Wednesday, July 15 at 8:30 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN, SiriusXM Channel 90

ADVANCE NOTES

All-Star Race On Deck Wednesday in Bristol

· NASCAR will make history Wednesday when it heads to Bristol Motor Speedway for the All-Star Race for the first time. Outside of the 1986 event in Atlanta, the race has been held in Charlotte. However, due to ongoing implications from COVID-19, officials moved the event to ‘The World’s Fastest Half Mile’ for the 2020 event.

· The main event will have four stages consisting of a 55-lap opening run, back-to-back 35 laps sequences, and a final 15 lap stage. Only green-flag laps will count in the final stage, and the final stage will end with a checkered flag.

· New to the event in 2020, car numbers will appear farther back on the side panels of the cars. The change will put each car’s primary partner now in the center – below the door – with the number shifted to just in front of the rear tires.

· Also new to the All-Star Race is the choose rule, a method used commonly throughout the grassroots levels of racing for restarts. When drivers approach a designated spot on the track, they must commit to the inside or outside lane for the restart. Failure to make a clear choice or changing lanes after the designated spot will result in a tail-of-the-field penalty. This is different from the current double-file restart system, where only the race leader chooses his lane. Having the rule for the All-Star Race gives every driver the ability to make his own decision, and strategy will come into play in every instance.

Newman Historically in the All-Star Race

· Newman will make his 19th start in the All-Star Race on Wednesday. He is eligible for the event by way of his 2002 victory in The Winston, after winning the qualifying event just prior.

· Outside of his win in 2002, Newman also has two additional top five finishes in the star-studded event, second in 2004 and fifth in 2006. Most recently, he finished 13th a year ago at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

· The 2003 Driver of the Year started on the pole once back in 2004, and had two second-place starting positions in 2004 and 2012.

· The field for Wednesday’s All-Star Race will be determined by a random draw.

· Overall at Bristol, Newman has an average finish of 15.4 with 19 top-10s and two top fives.

Scott Graves in the All-Star Race

· Graves will be atop the box for just his second All-Star Race, after finishing 13th a season ago with Newman.

QUOTE WORTHY

Newman on racing in the All-Star Race:
“The All-Star Race is always fun and unique in that you can take some chances you may not otherwise take, both in car setup and on the track execution. Moving to Bristol will no doubt intensify the drama and I’m excited to try out the format at a short track. Way back in my career I was able to win the qualifying race to get in, and wound up winning that, so I know what that feeling is like and hope to have it again come Wednesday in our Oscar Mayer Ford.”

Last Time Out
Newman picked off multiple positions in the closing laps of Sunday’s 400-mile race from Kentucky to finish 17th in the Acronis Ford.

Where They Rank
Newman is 26th in driver points after 14 races in his 2020 campaign. In owners’ points, the No. 6 is 23rd.

On the Car
Oscar Mayer returns to the No. 6 Ford Wednesday at Bristol, highlighting bacon. Oscar Mayer and Roush Fenway announced their continued partnership at the end of the 2019 season, as the company continues to highlight its quality meat offerings via its paint schemes throughout the season.

· Oscar Mayer and Newman have also teamed to support a great cause to help provide food to those in need by offering a race weekend experience as part of the Fanatics ALL IN Challenge.

· With help from the iconic Oscar Mayer Wienermobile – the 27-foot-long vehicle hauling buns around the country promoting the Oscar Mayer brand – Ryan Newman and Oscar Mayer will host two lucky fans for a full race weekend experience in 2021. The highest bidder and a guest will receive an exclusive meet and greet with Newman, get a chance to ride in the hot-dog-on-wheels, and have access to other behind-the-scenes features. The experience will also include two roundtrip domestic flights, hotel and travel expenses.

· To bid on the experience, click here or visit www.AllInChallenge.com. All proceeds benefit non-profit organizations like Feeding America, Meals on Wheels, America’s Food Fund, No Kid Hungry and World Central Kitchen. Bidding is live (as of July 9) and will close Sunday, July 19. The highest bidder will be notified after the auction concludes.

About the Kraft Heinz Company
For 150 years, we have produced some of the world’s most beloved products at The Kraft Heinz Company (NASDAQ: KHC). Our Vision is To Be the Best Food Company, Growing a Better World. We are one of the largest global food and beverage companies, with 2019 net sales of approximately $25 billion. Our portfolio is a diverse mix of iconic and emerging brands. As the guardians of these brands and the creators of innovative new products, we are dedicated to the sustainable health of our people and our planet. To learn more, visit https://www.kraftheinzcompany.com/ or follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Ryan Newman a live 30/1 dog at Talladega

Ryan Newman runner-up at Talladega last fall.

Team: No. 6 Castrol Ford Mustang
Crew Chief: Scott Graves

Twitter: @Roush6Team, @RoushFenway and @RyanJNewman
Race Format: 500 miles, 188 laps, Stage Lengths: 60-60-68

Geico 500 – Sunday, June 21 at 3 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN, SiriusXM Channel 90

ADVANCE NOTES

NASCAR Returns to Action

· NASCAR’s return to racing continues at Talladega Superspeedway this weekend, with the first superspeedway race since the Daytona 500. The 500-mile event from the 2.66-mile track was originally set for April 26.

· Despite the horrific last-lap crash in the Daytona 500 in which RFR was potentially in line for a 1-2 finish, RFR has fared particularly well in superspeedway races as of late. Newman finished a close second last fall at Talladega, while teammate Chris Buescher finished third in February in Daytona.

· Four weeks of NASCAR action were completed prior to the COVID-19 hiatus with races at Atlanta, Homestead, Texas, Bristol, Richmond, Talladega, Dover and Martinsville postponed.

Homestead Recap, Talladega Preview

· Newman was unable to overcome a mountain of obstacles – including multiple on-track incidents and a late speeding penalty – to finish 30th at Homestead.

· In the original schedule for Talladega, there was one practice session for teams on Saturday. That has since been removed, meaning the Cup Series’ first on-track action will be when the green drops for the 500-mile race.

· The starting lineup will once again be determined by a random draw based on teams’ order in owners points. Newman – 20th in points – will draw for a spot in the 13-24 group. The draw takes place at 6 p.m. ET Thursday on NASCAR RaceHub on FS1.

Newman Historically at Talladega Superspeedway

· Newman makes his 37th Cup start at Talladega on Sunday. In 36 prior starts, he has an average finish of 18.7 with 15 top-10s and seven top-fives.

· Newman is coming off a second-place run in the sixth-closest finish in NASCAR history — .007 seconds – where last fall he secured his second runner-up result in the last three years.

· In the past five races alone at Talladega, Newman has just one finish outside the top-10. He also finished seventh in the 2019 spring event, a year after crossing the line ninth in the 2018 spring race.

· Newman has one Xfinity Series start at Talladega, which came back in 2009, where he qualified on the pole and finished second.

Scott Graves at Talladega Superspeedway

· In just seven Cup starts atop the pit box, Scott Graves has an impressive 9.9 average finish with only one result outside the top 15 dating back to 2013. Outside of the pair of top-10s in 2019 with Newman, Graves also has a third-place run with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (2013), and a top-10 with Daniel Suarez in the spring of 2018.

· Graves also called three Xfinity Series races at Talladega, all of which were top-10s. He led Buescher to a runner-up result in 2014 and followed that with a sixth-place finish a year later, before finishing seventh with Suarez in 2016.

QUOTE WORTHY

Newman on racing at Talladega:
“Sunday is a big day for both me personally, as well as our race team. I don’t think there’s any doubt we’ve shown what we can do at a superspeedway track. We were right there last fall and just missed it, and obviously felt good going into the last lap in Daytona in February. As always, being one of the ones left at the end will be key, and we hope to be one of those come Sunday in the Castrol Ford.”

On the Car
Castrol returns to Newman’s No. 6 machine this weekend at Talladega. The high-performance lubricant brand signed as the team’s official oil partner in January and will serve as the primary for select races in 2020.

About Castrol
Castrol, a global leader in lubricant technology, serves customers and consumers in over 140 countries in the automotive, marine, industrial and energy production sectors. Our branded products are recognized globally for innovation and high performance through our commitment to premium quality products, highly responsive services and cutting-edge technology. To find out more about Castrol products and programs, please visit www.castrol.com/us.

Ryan Newman is 80/1 to win 2020 Darlington 400

Ryan Newman's first race since Daytona wreck. 

Team: No. 6 Oscar Mayer Ford Mustang
Crew Chief: Scott Graves
Twitter: @Roush6Team, @RoushFenway and @RyanJNewman
Race Format: 400.2 miles, 293 laps, Stage Lengths: 90-95-108

Darlington 400 – Sunday, May 17 at 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN, SiriusXM Channel 90

ADVANCE NOTES


NASCAR Returns to Action

· NASCAR makes its return to racing this weekend with a NASCAR Cup Series race that will serve as the first of seven national series races over an 11-day span at two different tracks throughout May.

· The race at the historic South Carolina track will be held without fans in attendance and is slated to be NASCAR’s first on-track action in more than two months as the sport and world have been on pause during COVID-19.

· Following the initial race back on Sunday, the NCS will again visit Darlington for a midweek race under the lights three days later. The May schedule also includes the crown jewel Coca-Cola 600 in its traditional Memorial Day Weekend home for the 60th consecutive season, plus other midweek races in prime time.

· Four weeks of NASCAR action were completed prior to the outbreak before races at Atlanta, Homestead, Texas, Bristol, Richmond, Talladega, Dover and Martinsville were later postponed.

Newman at Darlington Raceway

· Newman makes his return to the car this weekend following a last-lap crash in the Daytona 500 in which he was leading coming to the checkered flag. After recovering from the injuries sustained in the crash, Newman was cleared for racing activity on April 28 and granted a playoff waiver from NASCAR after missing three races (Las Vegas, Fontana, Phoenix).

· Newman will make his 22nd Cup Series start at Darlington on Sunday, a track he has 13 top-10s at with seven top-five finishes. He has an average finish of 12.6 – his second best of any track on the circuit behind only Richmond (12.3).

· Newman has finished top-10 in 62 percent of the races at the 1.366-mile track, including a runner-up finish in is first ever-Southern 500 back in 2002. Dating back seven events, Newman has five finishes of 13th or better including four top-10s.

· Newman has one career pole at ‘The Lady in Black’, which came back in the 2003 Southern 500. Overall he has an average starting position of 10.6 with 13 top-10 starts, eight of which were inside the top five.

· Newman also made five starts at Darlington in the Xfinity Series, earning the pole in each of the first two events in 2001. He went on to finish fourth in the 2001 fall race – his best career Xfinity result – with an overall finish of 13.6 in the series at the famed track.

Scott Graves at Darlington Raceway

· Graves will call his fifth NCS race at Darlington atop the pit box. In four prior events, Graves has an average finish of 27th (two starts with Daniel Suarez, one each with Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., and Ryan Newman).

· In Xfinity Series action, Graves led Suarez to a third-place finish in 2016 after starting fifth. A year prior, he and Chris Buescher paired up for a fifth-place result.

QUOTE WORTHY
Newman on return to racing:
“I’m so excited and thankful to be healthy to get back into the race car. I am thankful for all the people and support that have prayed for me and given me a multitude of miracles. I cannot think of a better track to start back at than Darlington, my favorite track and one we feel confident in. I’m excited to get back behind the wheel of the Oscar Mayer Ford.”

The Real Heroes Project Debuts at Darlington
NASCAR is collaborating with other professional sports properties across the country to embark on The Real Heroes Project. The goal is to motivate and inspire healthcare workers as sports only can, by turning its greatest heroes (the athletes) into their greatest fans. To that end, the name of a COVID-19 frontline worker will be displayed above the driver’s side door on each entry this weekend at Darlington.

For the first race back on May 17, NASCAR worked in partnership with FOX and their tune-in priority market affiliate program to select the COVID-19 worker being recognized. FOX affiliates from around the country were asked to nominate a local hero from their community to be recognized during the return. Newman’s frontline worker will be Dr. Benjamin Petty, an Emergency Medicine Physician at IU Health West Hospital in Avon, selected by WXIN FOX 59 in the Indianapolis market.

On the Car
Oscar Mayer returns to the No. 6 Ford this weekend at Darlington. Oscar Mayer and Roush Fenway announced their continued partnership at the end of the 2019 season, as the company continues to highlight its quality meat offerings via its paint schemes throughout the season.

· Oscar Mayer’s Front Yard Cookout initiative inspired the No. 6 Oscar Mayer Ford scheme for Darlington. To celebrate the return of NASCAR and Ryan Newman, the brand is encouraging fans to recreate their own at-home infield experience by firing up the grill and connecting with fellow race fans and neighbors on their front lawn from a safe distance.

· Snap a pic of your pre-race cookout and share for a good cause! Each usage of #FrontYardCookout on Twitter donates one additional meal to Feeding America on top of the brand’s 1 million-meal commitment. Oscar Mayer’s Front Yard Cookout runs through May 31, 2020.

About The Kraft Heinz Company
For 150 years, we have produced some of the world’s most beloved products at The Kraft Heinz Company (NASDAQ: KHC). Our Vision is To Be the Best Food Company, Growing a Better World. We are one of the largest global food and beverage companies, with 2018 net sales of approximately $26 billion. Our portfolio is a diverse mix of iconic and emerging brands. As the guardians of these brands and the creators of innovative new products, we are dedicated to the sustainable health of our people and our planet. To learn more, visit https://www.kraftheinzcompany.com/or follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

2020 Busch Clash at Daytona Betting Preview

NASCAR has been missed!

For eight weeks after Kyle Busch won the NASCAR Cup Championship, I had been thoroughly enjoying my vacation away from covering the series. It always starts to be a grind for me right about the time football starts as I’m pulled in several directions covering other sports. But recently I started to get that itch again and now I’m absolutely dying for the green flag to drop in Sunday’s Busch Clash.

I’ll be watching Saturday’s 50-minute practice session not because I want to get some more data and see who looks fast, but rather just to see side-by-side racing at 200 mph and hear the thunder which psychologically triggers my senses of the sweet smell of burnt rubber and fuel. Yes, I’ve missed just about everything NASCAR has to offer including the little nuances such as the customary prayer, national anthem, and flyovers with rows of drivers and crew members all standing at attention proud.

And of course, I’ve missed setting up my game plan for betting each race. Most of all, I’ve missed the winning, especially after a rough Super Bowl. I bet other sports but don’t play a lot of futures so it’s only in NASCAR that I can bag a score at 40/1 or 25/1 odds. In last season’s Clash, I got lucky with Jimmie Johnson winning at 25/1 odds which improved a betting bankroll that got abused when the Rams lost the Super Bowl.

Maybe I should just stop betting the Super Bowl. However, I do bet more on a weekly basis with NASCAR than I do in the Super Bowl. In Sunday’s 75-lap non-points Clash, I don’t play any driver matchups just as is the case for all races at Daytona and Talladega, so the amount I bet is less. The volatility of the two big high banked tracks with cars all bunched together take away value on matchups because every driver is more likely to wreck than at other tracks. Odds to win is another story because that volatility can work in your favor if taking longer shots just like Johnson’s Clash win last season.

So the strategy this week, and to a degree, next week as well is to find four of five drivers with varying odds on the betting board and use the wager amount to dictate who you want to win the most money with. Stagger the wagers with one of the favorites, a middle of the road driver or two and a legitimate longshot, or a driver at 20/1 odds or higher.

It’s a short race and will go by extremely fast and there will be a wreck eventually which could chop half the field of only 18 drivers. We’re going to need a little luck, but that’s what racing at Daytona is always about.

My strategy to start with is understanding that there are no changes in the race package. It’s the same package that was used at both Talladega races and also the July Daytona race. The old restrictor-plate package was used in last season’s Clash and Daytona 500.

I’m looking for drivers that had success in the three races using the new package last season while also mixing in a few drivers that are traditionally good at Daytona and Talladega who understand the draft. Some drivers like Denny Hamlin have the ability to quickly move through the field propelling themselves off of other drivers' wind.

Hamlin has three Clash wins, the first coming as a rookie, and last season he won his second Daytona 500. At 10/1 odds, he has to be in almost every betting strategy this week.

As a refresher, part-time Cup driver Justin Haley won the July Daytona race and Chase Elliott and Ryan Blaney won each of the Talladega races. It was the first time all three had won a points race at either Daytona or Talladega.

For a driver like Blaney, it was a long time coming because he has been leading lots of races at both tracks since joining Team Penske. He led laps in all three races using the new race package.

READ MORE HERE......TOP-5 FINISH PREDICTION ON VEGASINSIDER.COM

Ryan Newman a live underdog to win 2020 Busch Clash

Ryan Newman is a contender to win Sunday's Busch Clash.

Team: No. 6 Koch Industries Ford Mustang
Crew Chief: Scott Graves
Twitter: @Roush6Team, @RoushFenway and @RyanJNewman

Daytona 500 Qualifying – Sunday, Feb. 9 at 12:30 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN, SiriusXM Channel 90

Busch Clash – Sunday, Feb. 9 at 3 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN, SiriusXM Channel 90

ADVANCE NOTES

Newman in the Clash

· Newman makes his 16th start in the Clash format at Daytona International Speedway. The 2020 field is limited to 2019 pole winners, former Clash champions, former Daytona 500 winners, former Daytona 500 pole winners, and 2019 NCS Playoff drivers.

· Newman finished ninth in this event last year after starting fourth. He has three top-five results in the Clash all-time, including second in 2005, third in 2011 and fourth in 2003.

· Overall at Daytona, Newman has 36 NCS starts with one win (2008 Daytona 500), 11 top-10 and six top-five finishes.

Scott Graves in the Clash

· Scott Graves will call his second Clash race from atop the pit box on Sunday after finishing ninth with Newman in the 2019 edition of the star-studded event.

Newman in Daytona 500 Qualifying

· Newman has an overall average starting spot of 19.9 at DIS. His best Daytona 500 qualifying effort came the same year he won the Great American Race, lining up seventh in 2008.

· His best finish all-time in a qualifying race (Duel) is third, which also came in 2008. He crossed the line ninth in last season’s Duel before going on to start 14th in the Daytona 500.

QUOTE WORTHY

Newman on racing in the Clash:
“Any time you turn the first laps of the season at Daytona it is sure to be exciting. The Clash is a great way to start off Speedweeks. It allows us to get a feel for the car and take some chances we would not otherwise take. We are looking forward to kicking off 2020 in a big way and excited to have Koch Industries on board with us at the World Center of Racing.”

Micah Roberts' take on Newman winning Busch Clash
#6 Ryan Newman (25/1) - His only win with the old restrictor-plate package was the 2008 Daytona 500, but that’s not why I’m betting him here. First of all, he’s starving for a win in any kind of race with no points or not. No wins the last two years and just one in the last six. But he’s got to have a car capable of winning and this type of track is the only track Roush Fenway Racing has been good at in recent years. His former teammate Ricky Stenhouse Jr. won at Talladega and Daytona in 2017 and last season it was Newman making some noise in the three races using the new race package. He was seventh in the April Talladega race, fifth at Daytona in July and then runner-up by a nose in the last Talladega race. Same equipment with a better result for him this time, or at least I believe he'll have a great run competing for the win and that's really all I can ask for with the driver having the longest odds of the race that I bet.

On the Car
Koch Industries (pronounced ‘Coke’) makes its debut with Roush Fenway Racing and Ryan Newman in Daytona, serving as the primary for both the Busch Clash all-star event on Feb. 9, as well as the famed Daytona 500 on Feb. 16.

About Koch Industries
Based in Wichita, Kansas, Koch Industries, Inc. is one of the largest private companies in America, with estimated annual revenues as high as $110 billion, according to Forbes. It owns a diverse group of companies involved in refining, chemicals, and biofuels; forest and consumer products; fertilizers; polymers and fibers; process and pollution control systems; electronics, software and data analytics; minerals; glass; automotive components; ranching; commodity trading; and investments. Since 2003, Koch companies have invested nearly $105 billion in growth and improvements. With a presence in 60 countries, Koch companies employ nearly 130,000 people worldwide, with about 67,000 of those in the United States. From January 2009 to present, Koch companies have earned more than 1,300 awards for safety, environmental excellence, community stewardship, innovation, and customer service. For more news and information, visit www.KOCHind.com.

Newman up to his typical Playoff tricks

Ryan Newman is 100/1 to win Sunday.

For all intents and purposes, Roush Fenway Racing driver Ryan Newman has raised his game at precisely the right time. After a tight late-season battle between up to five drivers to even qualify for a Playoff berth, the veteran is now in solid position to advance to the next round.

Newman is ranked a season-high ninth in the championship standings with a 14-point edge on 13th-place Alex Bowman. The top 12 drivers among the group of 16 Playoff competitors will advance to the next round following the outcome of Sunday’s Charlotte Roval race.

Not only did Newman convincingly earn his Playoff spot with an impressive eighth-place run in the Indianapolis regular season finale, he has top-10 finishes in the two Playoff races since. He was 10th at Las Vegas and fifth last weekend at Richmond – tying his season best mark, a fifth place in the summer Daytona race.

Newman placed 11th at the ROVAL inaugural race last season. He was seventh in the No. 6 RFR Ford at the Sonoma, Calif. road course in June and 25th at Watkins Glen, N.Y. in August. Although he’s never won on a Cup Series road course, he did win the 2005 Xfinity Series race at Watkins Glen. He has three top 10s in 18 starts at The Glen, but his last came back in 2006 (eighth place). He was runner-up in his series debut there in 2002.

Historically, Newman’s numbers are a bit better at Sonoma. He has eight top-10 finishes in 18 starts – three in the last five races there, including this summer. He was runner-up in 2006.

The team goes into the Charlotte weekend feeling as optimistic as it has this season, according to Newman, who said his seventh place at Richmond last weekend was the best team performance of the season “without a doubt.’’

Ryan Newman is 100/1 to win at the Brickyard

Ryan Newman won 2013 Brickyard 400.

Team: No. 6 Acorns Ford Mustang
Crew Chief: Scott Graves
Twitter: @Roush6Team, @RoushFenway and @RyanJNewman

Big Machine Vodka 400 – Sunday, Sept. 8 at 2 p.m. ET on NBC, SiriusXM Channel 90

ADVANCE NOTES

Newman at Indianapolis Motor Speedway
· Newman will make his 19th Cup start at Indy on Sunday. In 18 prior events, he has one win at The Brickyard with five top-10s, three top fives and an average finish of 16.4.
· Newman secured one of the top victories in all of racing in this event six years ago, winning the 2013 edition of the Brickyard 400. Newman took the lead from Brad Keselowski and led the final 12 laps en route to the win.
· Newman’s best finish outside the victory came just two years ago, crossing the line third after starting eighth. He also finished fourth at the 2.5-mile track in 2002.
· Newman has an average starting spot of 9.7 with one career pole (2013). He qualified inside the top-10 in his first eight Indy races and overall has 13 top-10 starts.

Scott Graves at Indianapolis Motor Speedway
· Graves will be atop the box for his fourth MENCS race at Indy on Sunday. In three prior events Graves has a best finish of seventh with Daniel Suarez in 2017.
· He also called three races in Xfinity Series action (two with Chris Buescher, one with Suarez) with a best finish of seventh with Suarez in 2016.

QUOTE WORTHY

Newman on racing at Indy:
“We know what we have to do entering this weekend. We’ve shown all season we have a lot of fight and we don’t give up, so we’re going to continue that at Indy. Going back home to Indiana is always special for me and is a place that has been good to us over the years. We’re going to give it everything we have this weekend in our Acorns Ford.”

Tracking the Playoff Hunt
· Newman enters the final weekend of the regular season needing to surpass the No. 41, who holds the tiebreaker as the two are tied for the 16th and final spot. The No. 48 sits 18 points back in 18th as four cars total will battle for the final two spots at Indy.

On the Car
Acorns makes its sixth appearance of the season as the primary partner aboard Newman’s No. 6 Ford Mustang this weekend at Indy.

About Acorns
The Acorns app automatically invests your spare change from everyday purchases into your future! And that’s just the start. For just $1, $2, or $3 per month, you get the nation’s first financial wellness system at your fingertips. Set automatic Recurring Investments of just $5 a day, week or month, seamlessly save for retirement, earn money for your future from 350+ top brands, spend smarter with the only debit card that saves and invests for you and grow your knowledge with money tips on the go! With bank-level security and fraud protection built in, Acorns makes it easy to turn spare change into more for your future. Download Acorns now and get started in under 5 minutes!

Acorns is accessed simply and easily via the app for iPhone, Android or Desktop. Visit Acorns.com for more.

Recapping Darlington
Ryan Newman had an eventful night at Darlington this past weekend finishing 23rd. He was the victim of a caution early on after contact with the No. 41, before receiving damage from the No. 8 car later in the race as the final 80 laps went caution-free.

Ryan Newman is 100/1 to win at Michigan

Ryan Newman has two wins at Michigan.

Ryan Newman – Michigan II Advance

Team: No. 6 Wyndham Rewards Ford Mustang
Crew Chief: Scott Graves
Twitter: @Roush6Team, @RoushFenway and @RyanJNewman
Consumers Energy 400 – Sunday, August 11 at 3 p.m. ET on NBCSN, MRN, SiriusXM Channel 90

ADVANCE NOTES

Newman at Michigan International Speedway

· Newman will make his 37th Cup start at the 2-mile Michigan International Speedway this weekend. In 36 prior events, Newman has two wins, 10 top-10s and six top fives. He has an overall average finish of 16.1 and starting spot of 13.6 with one pole.

· Newman’s pair of wins at MIS came in back-to-back races back in 2003 and 2004. Newman led 32 laps en route to his fifth of eight wins that season, holding off Kevin Harvick and Tony
Stewart. The next event he led 22 laps after starting fourth to earn the win under yellow.

· Newman is coming off an eighth-place finish at MIS in June. Dating back five races, he has finished top-15 or better four times.

· Dating back seven events, Newman has qualified 11th or better four times, including a sixth-place effort last August. His lone career Cup pole at MIS came back in 2005
before going on to finish 15th.

· Newman also made four Xfinity Series starts at MIS, winning his first two events (2001, 2005) with a combined 126 laps led.

Scott Graves at Michigan International Speedway

· Graves will be atop the pix box for his eighth MENCS race at MIS. In seven prior events – two with Ricky Stenhouse Jr., four with Daniel Suarez and most recently one with Newman in
June – Graves has an average finish of 20.7.

· Graves also won an Xfinity event with Suarez at the 2-mile track in 2016, defeating Kyle Busch to lead the final two laps en route to one of his three career NXS victories with Suarez.

Last Time at Michigan
In a Monday afternoon race at MIS in June, Newman restarted 14th for a green-white-checkered and crossed the line eighth.

QUOTE WORTHY

Newman on racing at Michigan:
“Michigan has always been an entertaining track due to it being so wide, which creates some exciting passing and racing. We earned a top-10 last time there in June, so we’re hoping to capitalize on that and gain some valuable points this weekend in the back
yard of Ford and Jack Roush in our Wyndham Rewards Ford Mustang.”

Tracking the Playoff Hunt

· Entering Michigan, Newman is tied for the 16th playoff spot with Jimmie Johnson, both 12 back of Clint Bowyer in 15th. Kyle Larson has a 46-point advantage on
both Johnson and Newman, while Daniel Suarez is 23 points back of the tie for the final spot.

Recapping Watkins Glen
Newman had an unfortunate tire issue halfway through Sunday’s race at Watkins Glen, forcing him to settle with a 25th-place finish.

Ryan Newman's only Charlotte win is 2002 All-Star Race

Ryan Newman is 80/1 to win All-Star Race.

Ryan Newman – All-Star Advance
Team: No. 6 Acorns Ford Mustang
Crew Chief: Scott Graves
Twitter: @Roush6Team, @RoushFenway and @RyanJNewman

All-Star Race – Saturday, May 18 at 8 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN, SiriusXM Channel 90

ADVANCE NOTES

Newman in the All-Star Race

· Newman will make his 18th start in the All-Star Race on Saturday. He’s locked in to the event by way of his 2002 victory in The Winston, after winning the No Bull Spring qualifying event.

· Outside of his win in 2002, Newman also has two additional top five finishes in the star-studded event, second in 2004 and fifth in 2006.

· Newman is in search of his first top-10 finish in the event in seven years, when he finished 10th in two-straight events in 2011 and 2012.

· The 2003 Driver of the Year has started on the pole once for the All-Star Race back in 2005. He also started second in 2004 and 2012.

Scott Graves in the All-Star Race

· Scott Graves will be atop the pit box for his first All-Star Race on Saturday.

QUOTE WORTHY

Newman on racing in the All-Star Race:

“The All-Star event is always a fun race that really has no limits. Everyone seems to be a little more aggressive, both in chances they take in setup and on the track since it’s a non-points event. The different segments, and now the introduction of some Gen-7 car features, will make it a challenging but fun night. One way or another it’s sure to be entertaining and we’re looking forward to it in our Acorns Ford.”

On the Car
Acorns makes its fourth appearance of the season aboard Newman’s No. 6 Ford Mustang this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

About Acorns
The Acorns app automatically invests your spare change from everyday purchases into your future! And that’s just the start. For just $1, $2, or $3 per month, you get the nation’s first financial wellness system at your fingertips. Set automatic Recurring Investments of just $5 a day, week or month, seamlessly save for retirement, earn money for your future from 350+ top brands, spend smarter with the only debit card that saves and invests for you and grow your knowledge with money tips on the go! With bank-level security and fraud protection built in, Acorns makes it easy to turn spare change into more for your future. Download Acorns now and get started in under 5 minutes!

Acorns is accessed simply and easily via the app for iPhone, Android or Desktop. Visit Acorns.com for more.

Recapping Kansas
Newman finished 23rd last Saturday night under the lights in Kansas.

Ryan Newman heads to Las Vegas showing speed with new package

Ryan Newman is 50/1 to win at Las Vegas Sunday.

Team: No. 6 Wyndham Rewards Ford Mustang
Crew Chief: Scott Graves

Twitter: @Roush6Team, @RoushFenway and @RyanJNewman

Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Lube – Sunday, March 3 at 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX, PRN, SiriusXM Channel 90

ADVANCE NOTES

Newman at Las Vegas Motor Speedway

· Newman will make his 20th MENCS start at Las Vegas Motor Speedway this weekend. In 19 prior starts Newman has an average finish of 15.5 with nine top-10 and four top-five finishes.

· Newman’s best finish at the 1.5-mile track came back in 2015 when he crossed the line third. He also has two fourth-place results (2002, 2012) and finished fifth back in 2011. He’s finished 11th or better in four of the last six races at LVMS, including a ninth-place result last fall. He crossed the line 11th in this race last March.

· Newman has one career pole in Vegas, which came back in 2005. He has an average starting position of 14.0. His last start inside the top-10 came in 2015 when he rolled off seventh. Overall he has four starts of third or better (2002, 2003, 2005, 2010).

Scott Graves at Las Vegas Motor Speedway

· Graves will call his fourth MENCS race at Las Vegas this weekend. In three prior events atop the pit box he has an average finish of 17.3

· He led Daniel Suarez to an eighth-place finish last fall after starting 19th. He also qualified seventh back in 2013 with Ricky Stenhouse Jr., before going on to finish 18th.

· Graves also has three starts in the Xfinity Series at the 1.5-mile track, where he finished runner-up with Suarez back in 2016. He also has a top-10 with former RFR driver Chris Buescher in 2014.

QUOTE WORTHY

Newman on racing at Las Vegas:

“We’re excited to get to Vegas this weekend to kick off the West Coast swing. We showed some good speed last weekend in Atlanta and I’m ready to see how that carries over to another 1.5-mile track with the full aero package this weekend. We tested there back in January and learned a lot. We’re excited to have Wyndham Rewards on board, and we look forward to showcasing their properties on the road this season.”

On the Car

· Wyndham Rewards, the award-winning hotel loyalty program, is back on the No. 6 for 2019. And coming in April, Wyndham Rewards will be more rewarding than ever. Free nights faster. More ways to earn. More ways to redeem. Learn more at wyndhamrewards.com/comingsoon.

· Las Vegas and Wyndham Rewards don’t just come together for race weekend. Thanks to a partnership with Caesars Rewards, Wyndham Rewards members can earn and redeem points at Caesars Entertainment properties and even transfer points and match status between the programs all year round. Learn more at wyndhamrewards.com/caesars

About Wyndham Rewards
Named a best hotel rewards program for the past four consecutive years by U.S. News and World Report, Wyndham Rewards® is the award-winning guest loyalty program of Wyndham Hotel Group, offering members a generous points earning structure along with a flat, free night redemption rate—the first of its kind for a major rewards program. Members earn a guaranteed 1,000 points for every qualified stay and can redeem for a free night at any of more than 25,000 hotels, condos or homes around the world for just 15,000 points per room per night. No tricks, just Wyndham Rewards magic. You’ve Earned This®. Join for free today at www.wyndhamrewards.com.

Ryan Newman is 100-to-1 to win at Atlanta

Ryan Newman had a good final day of testing at Las Vegas 3 weeks ago.

Team: No. 6 Acorns Ford Mustang
Crew Chief: Scott Graves
Twitter: @Roush6Team, @RoushFenway and @RyanJNewman

Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 – Sunday, Feb. 24 at 2 p.m. ET on FOX, PRN, SiriusXM Channel 90

ADVANCE NOTES

Newman at Atlanta Motor Speedway

· Newman will make his 27th MENCS start at Atlanta this weekend. In 26 prior events, Newman has nine top-10 and two top-five finishes.

· Newman has a stellar 6.8 average starting spot at the 1.5-mile track with seven career poles at AMS, including two-straight outside pole starts. In 26 career races Newman has started on the front row 12 times, and no worse than seventh in his last five races dating back to 2014.

· His top finishes came back in 2004 and 2013 when he crossed the line fifth. He’s also finished 10th on four occasions, including most recently in 2015.

· Newman is a former winner at AMS in the Truck Series winning back in 2008, one of only seven Truck starts in his career.

· Newman also has three starts at AMS in the Xfinity Series, finishing eighth in 2010 and capturing the pole back in 2001.

Scott Graves at Atlanta Motor Speedway

· Graves will call his third MENCS race at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sunday.

· He has two prior starts atop the pit box with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. back in 2013 and most recently with Daniel Suarez in 2018.

· He led Stenhouse to the pole before finishing 16th, and earned a top-15 with Suarez last season after starting fourth.

QUOTE WORTHY

Newman on racing at Atlanta:

“This weekend will be the first real test for our team with the new package and a fast race track. Atlanta is historically a place that you can run anywhere at; up near the wall or down on the line, so it makes for some challenging but great racing. We’re looking forward to our debut with Acorns on the car this weekend and look to bring home a solid finish on Sunday.”

On the Car

Acorns makes its debut with Roush Fenway Racing and Ryan Newman this weekend, serving as the primary partner on the No. 6 Ford Mustang. Acorns’ bright green colors will shine for the first time in 2019 as part of a six-race deal with the team.

About Acorns
The Acorns app automatically invests your spare change from everyday purchases into your future! And that’s just the start. For just $1, $2, or $3 per month, you get the nation’s first financial wellness system at your fingertips. Set automatic Recurring Investments of just $5 a day, week or month, seamlessly save for retirement, earn money for your future from 350+ top brands, spend smarter with the only debit card that saves and invests for you and grow your knowledge with money tips on the go! With bank-level security and fraud protection built in, Acorns makes it easy to turn spare change into more for your future. Download Acorns now and get started in under 5 minutes!

Acorns is accessed simply and easily via the app for iPhone, Android or Desktop. Visit Acorns.com for more.

Ryan Newman to make Roush Fenway debut in Daytona Clash

Ryan Newman is 30/1 to win the Clash.

Team: No. 6 Wyndham Rewards Ford Mustang
Crew Chief: Scott Graves

Twitter: @Roush6Team, @RoushFenway and @RyanJNewman

Advance Auto Parts Clash – Sunday, Feb. 10 at 3 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN, SiriusXM Channel 90

ADVANCE NOTES

Newman in the Clash

· Ryan Newman makes his Roush Fenway debut behind the wheel of the No. 6 Ford Mustang this weekend at Daytona International Speedway kicking off Speedweeks.

· Newman qualifies for the 2019 Clash field via his 2008 Daytona 500 victory. He will be one of 20 drivers to take the green on Sunday for the 75-lap star-studded event.

· Newman will make his 15th start in the Clash format at Daytona, having finished top-five three times. He crossed the line second in 2005, third in 2011 and fourth in 2003.

· Overall at Daytona Newman has 34 Cup starts with one win (2008), 10 top-10 and five top-five results.

Scott Graves in the Clash

· Scott Graves will be making his Clash debut this weekend at Daytona.

QUOTE WORTHY

Newman on racing in the Clash:

“The Clash is a great event and always an exciting way to kick off the season. It is a limited, all-star field, with a winner take all mentality and it usually leads to some thrilling racing. It would be a great opportunity to kick of the season with a win and get momentum rolling heading into the Daytona 500.”

On the Car

Wyndham Rewards will serve as the primary partner for The Clash this weekend on the No. 6. It will be the first time for Newman to carry the blue and white colors on the Mustang in 2019.

About Wyndham Rewards
Named a best hotel rewards program for the past four consecutive years by U.S. News and World Report, Wyndham Rewards® is the award-winning guest loyalty program of Wyndham Hotel Group, offering members a generous points earning structure along with a flat, free night redemption rate—the first of its kind for a major rewards program. Members earn a guaranteed 1,000 points for every qualified stay and can redeem for a free night at any of more than 25,000 hotels, condos or homes around the world for just 15,000 points per room per night. No tricks, just Wyndham Rewards magic. You’ve Earned This®. Join for free today at www.wyndhamrewards.com.

Richard Childress Racing looking for third Sonoma win

Ryan Newman is 80/1 to win at Sonoma on Sunday.

Richard Childress Racing in Wine Country … In 69 starts at the 10-turn stadium course, Richard Childress Racing owns two wins, with Dale Earnhardt in the 1995 Save Mart Supermarkets 300 and with Robby Gordon in the Save Mart 350 in 2003, one pole award (Earnhardt, 1995), 14 top-five and 26 top-10 finishes. The Welcome, North Carolina,-based team has led 140 laps at Sonoma, completed 7,224 of the 7,270 laps contested (99.4 percent) and recorded just one DNF (Did Not Finish) over that stretch (1989-2017).

RCR in the MENCS … In 2,876 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series starts dating back to 1969, RCR has amassed 48 pole awards,108 wins, 487 top-five finishes and 1,055 top-10 finishes, with an average starting position of 17.8 and an average finishing position of 16.2. RCR has earned 15 total championships (six Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series championships with Earnhardt in 1986, ’87, ’90, ’91, ’93 and ’94, six NASCAR Xfinity Series titles, two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series titles and one ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards title) and was the first organization to win titles in NASCAR’s three national series.

Interactive RCR …For up-to-date news and exclusive content, visit RCR’s corporate Twitter page – @RCRracing – along with the RCR Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series team Twitter page – @RCRCup, and driver Twitter pages @austindillon3 and @RyanJNewman. Information about the 15-time championship winning organization can be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RichardChildressRacing and at www.RCRracing.com along with official driver pages – http://www.facebook.com/austindillon3 and www.facebook.com/RyanNewmanNASCAR.

Catch the Action … The Sonoma 350 at Sonoma Raceway will be televised live Sunday, June 24 beginning at 3 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1 and will be broadcast live on the Performance Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

______________________

This Week’s Dow Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 at Sonoma Raceway … In four previous Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series starts at Sonoma Raceway, Dillon’s best finish at the 10-turn, 1.99-mile road course is 17th, which he achieved in 2014 and 2015.

Dow Delivers Solutions at the Intersection of Sport and Science … Dow is dedicated to delivering innovative and sustainable technologies and solutions that create value and competitive advantage while positively impacting the world we live in. From improving engine performance and luge aerodynamics that help develop faster, more tuned and precise vehicles to energy-efficient insulation in Olympic Games venues, Dow continues to provide high-performance solutions for the science of speed. Learn more about Dow’s unmatched capabilities www.dow.com/sports and follow on Twitter @DowSports & @DowChemical

AUSTIN DILLON QUOTES:

How do you like going to Sonoma?
“I definitely enjoy it. Sonoma is beautiful. We stay in Petaluma. It’s a trip that we like to try and go out early just to enjoy the countryside. Sonoma was really good to us last year. I love how that track kind of falls off. Really, it’s probably one of the oldest asphalts that we go to. At both Sonoma and Atlanta, you just have no grip. It’s a lot of fun and I’ve enjoyed it. Now it’s one of my favorite places to go.”

How do you prepare for Sonoma Raceway?
“A lot of simulator time. Get in the simulator and run a lot of laps. We will be finding some time to do that within the busy schedule.”

Do you find yourself doing a little bit more recreation when we are in Sonoma?
“Yeah, more just hanging out with the guys and going out with them when I can.”

__________________

This Week’s Grainger/American Red Cross Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 at Sonoma Raceway… Ryan Newman will make his 600th Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series start when the Series competes in the first road-course event of the season. In 16 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series events at the 10-turn, 1.99-mile road course, Newman owns two top-five and seven top-10 finishes. He has led 11 laps and completed all 1,657 laps of competition. The South Bend, Ind., native has an average start of 13.1 and average finish of 12.5. In the last 10 races at the road course, the Richard Childress Racing driver ranks fourth in most points earned.

$18 Million and Counting … Grainger has been a long-time partner of the American Red Cross (ARC) and has donated more than $18 million in cash and products to their efforts since 2001. In 2017, the U.S. saw unprecedented levels of disaster. And the need to support Red Cross disaster relief efforts continues. This is why Grainger has asked its partners, Ryan Newman and Richard Childress Racing, to help raise awareness by creating a special Red Cross paint scheme for the No. 31 Chevrolet to run at Sonoma Raceway on June 24. Race fans are welcome to donate to support disasters like hurricanes, wildfires and countless other crises by visiting grainger.com/racing or text the word “REDCROSS” to 90999.

MEDIA ALERT… This weekend, RCR, Grainger and the American Red Cross are proud to support the track’s Sonoma Rising campaign by paying tribute to those affected by the devastating Sonoma/Napa fires, honoring first responders and lending support to the ongoing rebuilding efforts. On Friday, June 22 at 6:30 p.m. PT, RCR’s No. 31 Grainger team is inviting members of the media to participate in the assembling of American Red Cross kits for families that still need the essentials and for those locally who may need assistance during a tragic time like a home fire. The event is taking place in the Driver’s Lounge located in the back of the MENCS garage area. NASCAR Cup driver Ryan Newman, crew chief Luke Lambert, the entire 31 road crew, our friends at Grainger, the American Red Cross and the Ghigliazza family will be on hand to help and participate in interviews.

The Ghigliazza family will be guests of Grainger and RCR during the entire race weekend. John Ghigliazza is on the board of the local ARC chapter and never thought he would actually need to use the services provided by ARC. John and his family lost their home in the Sonoma/Napa fires. For their story: READ HERE.

OPEN HOUSE … The Caterpillar Visitors Center will welcome the No. 31 Caterpillar Camaro ZL1 driver Ryan Newman and team owner Richard Childress on Monday, July 2, 2018, from 10 a.m. CST until 12 p.m. CST. Tickets are needed for admission to the Newman and Childress autograph session and includes the launch of the newest exhibit, SPEED. Tickets are limited to the first 150 people and are $7 per person. Discounts do not apply to this event. For tickets and details, visit caterpillar.com/en/company/visitors-center/exhibits/speed.html.

RYAN NEWMAN QUOTES:

What is the key to being successful at Sonoma Raceway?
“The key to being successful at Sonoma Raceway is keeping your rear tires alive, not overheating them. You need to be good to your brakes and have a car that turns and rotates. You’ve got to be multi-talented because Sonoma boasts so many different types of corners. You’ve got to be able to drive through them all, mistake-free.”

Is there a corner for you that’s difficult to get right the entire time?
“I think the hardest part for me at Sonoma Raceway is really the easiest corner. It’s the esses. The corners where the car is most misbalanced are the fastest corners for whatever reason. It’s been like that for years for me. Hopefully if we can get those esses tightened up, we’ll be good.”

NASCAR's 2018 rules package changes

Ryan Newman's Camaro turns laps at Las Vegas test session Feb 1.

LET'S REFRESH OURSELVES ON THE 2018 RULE PACKAGE CHANGES FROM A KENNY BRUCE ARTICLE WRITTEN OCTOBER 3, 2017 

CONCORD, N.C. — After several seasons of reducing downforce and limiting horsepower, NASCAR’s 2018 rules package won’t take quite as big of a bite out of the aerodynamic platform currently employed by teams competing in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.

There are changes, but overall the 2018 package, delivered to teams Tuesday, is more about maintaining the positive momentum from years prior.

“We’ve got some things we would still like to try,” NASCAR Vice President of Innovation and Racing Development Gene Stefanyshyn told NASCAR.com. But 2018 will be about “just … hold things,” he said. “Let them settle down and then we can talk about what we will do for ’19.”

Chief among the handful of changes on the aerodynamic and technical front are the use of a common flat splitter and radiator/oil cooler for 2018.

The radiator/oil cooler move is something that is already in play at superspeedways. The common splitter, meanwhile, will be new for all venues.

“As we do that, some of the downforce will be removed from the car, so we will see a rearward shift in the balance of the car,” he said. “We estimate somewhere between two to two-and-a-half percentage points backward (approximately 100-120 pounds of downforce).

“So there will be an aerodynamic change. For that reason, we’ve decided to kind of leave things as they are because that will be something that teams will need to deal with. That’s basically the big thing on the non-superspeedway tracks as far as the aero package is concerned.”

New for superspeedways (Daytona and Talladega) next season will be the elimination of the current ride height rule, a move that should provide safety and perhaps competition benefits.

Tests conducted in the wind tunnel and on the track have verified what NASCAR officials were looking for prior to making the ride height move.

“In doing so we make a significant advancement in liftoff speed,” Stefanyshyn said. “Somewhere in the order of 30 mph; very, very significant.

“As we do that — we’ve had superspeedway specific shock absorbers and springs in the rear of the car. We can now do away with those and just use what we’ve got for the other tracks. It kind of brings all the packages together.”

Part of the reason for a limited number of rule changes can be linked to an evolution in the inspection process that will roll out next season.

The camera-based system which scans the car will replace current grid, module and Laser Inspection Station portions of the inspection process. Engine, chassis and safety inspection stations will remain in place.

“As we move to the next generation at-track inspection we’ve had engagement with the teams,” Stefanyshyn said. “What do we officiate, to what kind of tolerance? The teams and OEMs have given us a lot of input. They want us to bring that in tighter. As we do that there will be some more aerodynamics that will come off the car.”

In addition to the 100-120 pounds that will be gone with the common radiator and splitter changes, another 150 or so “is coming off due to the new officiating process and the tolerances we’ve agreed to,” he said.

“When you look at it you say you don’t see a lot physically different with the car, but those two element themselves are a fairly significant change, which was another reason we decided just to kind of hold where we are.”

Engine rule changes for ’18 were announced earlier this year. They include use of a sealed short-block engine for a minimum of 13 races; use of a long-block engine in the Clash and All-Star Race, the series’ two non-points events; and a single-engine rule for all races.

On the safety front, Stefanyshyn said incident data recorders will be powered by batteries from the vehicles, a move that will allow the IDRs to continuously record instead of recording only upon being triggered by an impact.

“When we run vehicle power, (the IDR) will be looping and we will be able to catch the frames or the information pre-crash which is very, very important as opposed to at-crash start,” he said. “We can actually go back in time and watch as that develops.

“Now we are actually going to have high speed video to be able to tie that exactly and it will give us a much higher understanding of a crash incident, and then being able to put in solutions to improve our situation in crashes. That’s a big step for us.”

The in-car camera will be located to the right of the driver.

The mandatory rollout of the enhanced vehicle chassis (EVC) originally slated for 2018 has been pushed to 2019. All new chassis are still required to certify with EVC beginning Nov. 20, 2017.

So what can fans expect to see in ’18?

“I suspect there will be somewhat of a difference,” Stefanyshyn said. “How each team handles it and figures it out will be interesting.”

2013 Brickyard winner Ryan Newman is 80-to-1 this week

Indiana native Ryan Newman currently sits 12th in points.

This Week’s Grainger Chevrolet SS at Indianapolis Motor Speedway …Ryan Newman will pilot brand new car No. 557 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday. All three Richard Childress Racing teams will field new Chevrolets for the Crown Royal Presents the Combat Wounded Coalition 400.

Newman at the Brickyard … Newman will make his 532nd NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start when the series competes at the 2.5-mile speedway this weekend. He scored the victory in 2013 at this prestigious event after starting from the pole and leading 45 of the 160 laps scheduled. In total, the “Rocket Man” owns two top-five and three top-10 finishes in 15 starts. The South Bend, Ind., native has led 59 laps in competition and has an average start of 9.5 and average finish of 16.8.

Grainger Choice … When you’re looking for ways to do more with less, you need easy access to dependable products that help keep your facility functioning. Look for the Grainger Choice badge to identify products-from safety, lighting and pumps to material handling, fasteners, parts and more-that deliver the quality, value and selection you demand. Grainger exclusive brands and products carrying the Grainger Choice designation are continually evaluated for their dependability and durability to help ensure their performance. For more info visit: grainger.com/content/grainger-choice.

See Newman … On Sunday, the No. 31 driver is scheduled to participate in a question and answer session at the Team Chevy display at 12:25 p.m. located in the infield midway.

RYAN NEWMAN QUOTES:

What makes Indianapolis Motor Speedway so unique?
“It’s the Brickyard. It’s the history of motorsports in America. It’s that yard of bricks. It’s a special place when you think about everyone who’s been there associated with F1, IndyCars, motorcycles and NASCAR. It’s unique because of the four corners, the long straightaways and the flatness. To me, it’s just unique in so many ways. It’s a fun place to drive and yet, it’s quite a challenge at the same time.”

What is the key to success at Indy?
“The key to success at Indy is actually two things and that’s downforce and horsepower. The rest of it is all about fine tuning those things.”

What is the hardest thing or place on the track to figure out?
“For me, it’s the last mile. It’s the fourth corner. You can hit three of them and then you have to hit the last one. The workload is twice as much at Indianapolis as it is at any other track to get the ideal lap. You have to hit all four corners right and each corner has an entry, middle and exit. Your workload is twice as much and the expectations are just as high.”

What was it like to win Indy?
“It was one of the greatest moments of my racing career to win the Brickyard and to have my family there. It was something to win it the way we did just a week after I got fired. We won the pole and the race. It was a storybook ending to an unpublished novel.”

- Richard Childress Racing

Newman has gained fifth most points in last 10 Pocono races

Ryan Newman is 80/1 to win at Pocono Raceway on Sunday.

This Week’s Kalahari Resorts and Conventions Chevrolet SS at Pocono Raceway … Ryan Newman will pilot car No. 507 in the Pocono 400 at Pocono Raceway. This car competed earlier this season at Auto Club Speedway as a No. 27 entry. Driver Paul Menard started 13th and finished 15th.

Newman at the Tricky Triangle … Newman will make his 526th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start when the Series returns to the 2.5-mile raceway this weekend. In 28 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events at Pocono, Newman drove to victory lane in the second summer event of 2003. The “Rocket Man” also owns two pole awards. In total, he’s recorded nine top-five and 14 top-10 finishes. He has led 184 laps in competition. The South Bend, Ind., native has an average start of 10.9 and average finish of 12.8. In the last 10 races at the Pennsylvania track, the Richard Childress Racing driver ranks fifth in most points earned.

Welcome Aboard … RCR welcomes Kalahari Resorts & Conventions to the No. 31 family of primary partners for this weekend’s Pocono 400. Kalahari Resorts in Wisconsin Dells, Wis., Sandusky, Ohio, and the Pocono Mountains, Pennsylvania, deliver a “world-away” waterpark resort and conference experience beyond expectations. The authentically African-themed Kalahari Resorts, privately owned by the Nelson family, are home to America’s largest indoor waterparks. All Kalahari Resorts feature well-appointed guestrooms, full-service Spa Kalahari, a fully equipped fitness center, on-site restaurants, unique retail shops, and a state-of-the-art conference center. Kalahari Resorts and Convention Centers frequently receive awards and accolades for our guest and convention services. Recent recognition includes: Condé Nast Traveler’s #1 World’s Coolest Indoor Waterparks, 2015 Reader’s Choice USA Today’s 10 Best Indoor Waterparks,TripAdvisors’ 2016 Travelers’ Choice Awards, Silver Star recognition for Best Family-Friendly Meeting Hotel and Resort in Smart Meeting’s 2014 Smart Stars Awards, Clean the World’s Top 50 Hot Properties in 2013, January 2015 OpenTable’s Diners’ Choice Award for Double Cut Grill’s signature dining experience for the second consecutive year, the Daily Herald’s 2014 Reader’s Choice Awards for Best Indoor Waterpark, selection as one of the nation’s Top Family Resorts by Family Fun magazine for 2013, being named the Best Conference Center in the state by the Wisconsin Hotel and Lodging Association, and selection as the Corporate Meeting Destination of the Year by Cleveland Business Connects magazine. For reservation and guest information, call 1-877-KALAHARI (525-2427) or visit: KalahariResorts.com. To learn more about Kalahari Resorts, members of the media are encouraged to visit KalahariMedia.com.

RYAN NEWMAN QUOTES:

What is the key to Pocono Raceway?
“It’s just really about getting a good balance in all three corners of the track. Another key is getting off the corners. It’s probably more important than getting into the corner because the straightaways are so long. There is more to be gained distance wise on the straightaway but just having a good balance and getting your shifting points right is also important in managing all three corners.”

What’s the hardest part of the track to figure out?
“It all depends. A lot of times it is the tunnel bump. Sometimes it could be just getting loose into Turn 1. It all depends on how your car is handling. I’ve had cars there that are still fast, but a handful to drive. You want it to be good and relaxed because you have long straightaways but it is a very demanding track. You think with the long straightaways you would be relaxed at the end of the race, but it’s actually one of the most physically demanding places to drive.”

Which turn is the most important one to get right?
“Turn 3 is the most important because of the front straightaway being the longest. There is more to gain and lose there. Turn 3 exit is super important.”

What are the starts and restarts like at Pocono Raceway?
“We can go five wide on the front straightaway on the restart but we do not go five wide into Turn 1. It just never works. Three wide is usually a question mark and two wide is sometimes a challenge in itself. There is a lot of give and take that has to be done in order to make a restart not trigger another restart, if you know what I mean.”

- Richard Childress Racing

Ryan Newman using 13th-place Las Vegas chassis at Bristol

Ryan Newman is 100/1 to win Sunday at Bristol.

This Week’s WIX Filters Chevrolet SS at Bristol Motor Speedway …Ryan Newman will pilot car No. 520 in Sunday’s 500-lap event. This is the second time this season the car will be in action for Newman and the 31 team. Last month at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Newman started 21st and finished 13th.

Newman at the World’s Fastest Half-Mile … Newman will make his 520th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start when the Series returns to Bristol’s bullring. In 28 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events at Bristol Motor Speedway, Newman owns three pole awards including the spring races in 2003 and 2004 as well as the fall event in 2011. He has earned two top-five and 15 top-10 finishes. His best result of second place came on August 28, 2004. The South Bend, Ind., native has an average start of 10.9 and average finish of 16.2. He’s led a total of 112 laps in competition. And in the XFINITY Series, he owns one pole (fall 2006) and a 2005 victory in the fall race.

WIX Filters … WIXFilters provides technical support for both RCR and ECR Engines by supplying air and oil filters as well as providing research and development support. RCR’s relationship with WIX Filters started back in the late 1960s and in 2011 at Bristol Motor Speedway, the No. 1 filter in motorsports began its association with Ryan Newman.

Since 1939, WIX® Filters has been an innovator in filtration products. WIX designs, manufactures and distributes products for automotive, diesel, agricultural, industrial and specialty filter markets. Its product line includes oil, air, cabin interior, fuel, coolant, transmission and hydraulic filters for automobiles, trucks, off-road equipment and manufacturing applications. For more information, visit wixfilters.com, or any of our social channels: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

Affinia Group … Affinia Group Inc. is an innovative global leader in the design, manufacture, distribution and marketing of industrial grade products and services, including extensive offerings of aftermarket products for automotive and heavy-duty vehicles. With approximately $1.4 billion in annual revenue, Affinia has operations in North and South America, Europe and Asia. For more information, visit affiniagroup.com.

See Newman … On Sunday, he is scheduled to participate in a question and answer session at the Team Chevy display at 10:00 a.m. located in the Bristol midway.

RYAN NEWMAN QUOTES:

What is the key to success at Bristol?
“The key is just having a good smooth rolling car because you have to get through the center of the corners. It is kind of like Martinsville Speedway but a whole lot faster. You have got to get in the corner. You have to get off the corner but you have to also roll the center. Plus, you have to stay out of people’s problems basically whether it’s caused by road rage or a simple short-track superspeedway accident that seem to happen there from time to time. You just never know. You have to be on your toes the entire day and that’s probably one of the biggest challenges at Bristol.”

What is the hardest thing or place to figure out about Bristol?
“Sometimes it’s track position. Sometimes it’s just easy to pass and sometimes it’s not. It’s really a fun track since they’ve changed it because you can end up running next to the wall and then running at the bottom for a few laps. It’s all about seeing if you are better at the bottom than most and getting by a few guys while they are trying to get by you on the high side. It’s a different Bristol from what we grew up with but it’s still a fun Bristol.”

What was the first impression of Bristol before you ever took a lap there?
“It was special but it wasn’t the most intimidating short track for me. My home track, Winchester Speedway in Winchester, Ind., was a half-mile, true 30 degrees of banking. We did it in 14-and-a-half seconds in a midget. To me, Winchester Speedway was more intimidating than Bristol. With that said, Bristol still is fast and a lot of fun to drive. It’s where I got the nickname, Rocketman.”

- Richard Childress Racing

Ryan Newman has eight top-10s in 15 Las Vegas starts

Ryan Newman is 50/1 to win at LVMS Sunday.

This Week’s Caterpillar Chevrolet SS at Las Vegas Motor Speedway (LVMS) … Ryan Newman will pilot car No. 520 at the 1.5-mile speedway in Las Vegas. The Cup teams will be on track a day early, Thursday, to participate in a one-day test.

Newman in Sin City … In 15 Sprint Cup Series events, Newman owns one pole award (2005) along with four top-five and eight top-10 finishes. His best result of third came last season with Richard Childress Racing in the Caterpillar Chevrolet. The South Bend, Ind., native has an average start of 11.8 and average finish of 16.3. He’s led a total of 112 laps in competition. In the last five races at LVMS, Newman ranks sixth in most Cup points earned.

The Built for It™ Trials LIVE: India … Caterpillar recently produced a video series showcasing the people of Madhya Pradesh, Cat® dealers and the Cat 424B backhoe as they all joined forces to bring relief to the people in the region. One crucial project involving Cat machines is the building of a water supply chain extending 200 villages in Madhya Pradesh. Part of the project focuses on children and the need to provide proper playgrounds to promote physical exercise and mental well-being. Witness how this team-effort brought joy to over 200 young children in the village of Sirali:#BuildforIt.For more information about Caterpillar, visit caterpillar.com. To connect with us on social media, visit caterpillar.com/social-media.

RYAN NEWMAN QUOTES:

What are the keys to Las Vegas?
“The bumps in Turn 1 at Las Vegas are kind of tricky. You can either drive around them or drive under them. Turns 3 and 4 are pretty smooth, nice and sweeping. It’s mostly the bumps in Turns 1 and 2 that makes for the key to being fast there and repetitively fast. Sometimes you can hit it right and then the next lap, you may not hit it right which creates riding issues making it all pointless. It’s imperative in the race to get over them every time.

“Las Vegas is a fast track and in the past you spent a lot of time wide open. With this year’s package, it is going to be interesting to see how much we have to brake or have to start slowing the car up a bit versus what we’ve done in the past.”

- Richard Childress Racing

Ryan Newman fastest in first Martinsville practice session

Chase Elliott needs to qualify to make STP 500 field; he's listed at 75/1 to win 

Rain delayed the first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice at Martinsville Speedway on Friday, but when they got going it was Ryan Newman who threw down the fastest lap at 97.835 mph in the shortened session. Newman, who won at Martinsville in 2012 (big assist from Clint Bowyer), took the fast lap on his 17th and final lap of the session while in qualifying trim.

AJ Allmendinger had the second fastest lap at 97.679 mph followed Jeff Gordon (97.664), Jimmie Johnson (97.618) and Martin Truex Jr. (97.558). Allmendinger will definitely be someone to watch during final practices on Saturday on the basis of a 10th-place average in both races last season and runner-up in 2012. Gordon and Johnson, well you know, they have 16 wins between them and are always drivers to watch on the flat half-mile layout.

Rounding out the top-10 in practice was Joey Logano (97.412), Jamie McMurray (97.412), Brad Keselowski (97.397), Denny Hamlin (97.212) and Kyle Larson (97.192). Of that group of five, only Hamlin has a win at Martinsville. Hamlin, a Virginia native who grew up racing there, has four wins but none since 2010.

Perhaps the biggest surprise of the day was to not see the Stewart-Haas cars of Kevin Harvick and Kurt Busch among leaders. They've been fast everywhere lately. Harvick had the 16th fastest lap while two-time Martinville winner Busch was 14th. For Harvick, despite capturing a win in 2011, Martinsville has not been his best track with only three top-5 finishes in 27 career starts.

Nine drivers ran at least 10-consecutive laps during the session with Chase Elliott having the fastest average. Elliott will attempt to make his Sprint Cup debut Sunday, but has to qualify on speed, and if rain is a problem, Elliott won't be able to qualify on points.

There are two practices scheduled for Saturday and those will be the defining sessions that should be used to finalize your wagers or fantasy selections. Martinsville has been pretty cut and dry with not too many surprises over the years, but every once in a while someone steps up to show they're ready to challenge Gordon and Johnson.

Updates will comes on Saturday with final driver ratings.

Practice 1 Speeds

Practice 2 Speeds - Hamlin fastest

Practice 3 Speeds - Busch fastest

Ryan Newman looking for 'good balance' on his car at Atlanta this weekend

Ryan Newman is 30/1 to win at Atlanta on Sunday

Ryan Newman
No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet SS

Race Notes and Quotes:

This Week’s Caterpillar Chevrolet SS at Atlanta Motor Speedway … Ryan Newman will drive chassis No. 486 in the second event on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule at Atlanta Motor Speedway. This No. 31 Chevrolet SS is a new car and will be utilized for the first time duringThursday’s test session.

Newman at AMS … In 22 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Newman owns seven pole awards, including sweeping six straight encompassing the 2003 to 2005 Sprint Cup seasons. He owns two top-five and eight top-10 finishes. His best results of fifth place came in 2013 and at the spring 2004 event. The South Bend, Ind., native has an average start of 7.4 and average finish of 17.2. He’s led a total of 175 laps in competition. In the Camping World Trucks Series, he captured victory in the fall 2008 race.

Welcome Aboard … This weekend, Newman’s No. 31 Chevrolet will feature the Caterpillar BuildingConstruction Products (BCP) Division paint scheme to help kick off the launch of two new products from Caterpillar giving their customers increased productivity while saving more fuel than ever before. Let’s Rethink the Tank!

The new Cat® D3K2, D4K2, and D5K2 Track Type Tractors have been upgraded with cleaner engines meeting U.S. EPA Tier 4 Final emissions standards and enhanced with new features that improve performance in utility and grading applications. Features such as Automatic Traction-Control, Slope-Indicate, which accuratelydisplay the machine’s blade angle, eliminating guesswork, and Slope-Assist, which facilitates grading by automatically maintaining pre-established blade angles. Consistent grades are attained more quickly and less experienced operators are more productive. #CatSlopeAssist.

The Building Construction Products Division is a global division of Caterpillar Inc. that employs several thousand employees located at facilities worldwide. BCP has production facilities in the U.S. (Clayton, N.C.; Sanford, N.C.; Athens, Ga.), UK, China, India and Brazil. Products designed, manufactured, and distributed by BCP include skid steer loaders, backhoe loaders, compact track loaders, multi-terrain loaders, small wheel loaders, small track-type tractors and mini-hydraulic excavators.

About Caterpillar … For nearly 90 years, Caterpillar Inc., has been making sustainable progress possible and driving positive change on every continent. Customers turn to Caterpillar to help them develop infrastructure, energy and natural resource assets. Caterpillar is the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives. The company principally operates through its three product segments – Resource Industries, Construction Industries and Power Systems – and also provides financing and related services through its Financial Products segment. More information is available at: www.caterpillar.com.

Point of Interest … Newman ranks 34th in the NSCS point standings entering this weekend’s second race on the Cup schedule. The RCR driver’s 38th-place showing in Sunday’s Daytona 500 was a result of a late-race accident with 40 laps remaining. Damage sustained in the mishap caused the No. 31 Chevrolet to go behind the wall for repairs. The team worked vigorously allowing Newman to return to the track and finish the event.

Media Availability … Newman will be accessible to media in attendance at AMS on Friday at noon Eastern Time. The media availability will be held outside the No. 31 hauler in the NSCS garage.

AMS Public Appearances … Newman is scheduled to participate in a question and answer session at the track on Sunday. He’ll be at the Coke Stage at 9:25 a.m. ET located in the QuikTrip Fan Zone.

Race Rewind … Last season in the Caterpillar Chevrolet at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Newman lined up eighth on the third and final green-white-checkered-flag restart and picked up one position to finish seventh. It was the team’s ninth top-10 result of the season.

Rescue Ranch Easter Portraits … Do you want to have that special picture of your little one(s) with an adorable bunny for Easter? Rescue Ranch’s own Hank, Hershey and Ivy will be camera ready on Saturday, March 14 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. ET. For details, visit http://www.rescueranch.com/special-events.

RYAN NEWMAN QUOTES:

What is the key to running well at Atlanta Motor Speedway?
“Its like any other track. Its about having a good balance on your car. That’s important because the tires fall off so quickly. If you lose one end of your car versus the other, the front or the back, it becomes exponential. With having that good balance, having good forward drive off Turn 2 and obviously having some speed, it’s a fast track where good downforce keeps the tires alive.”

Both Daytona and Atlanta produce fast speeds. Can you describe the difference?
“We are at the limit of speed at Daytona, not because of grip, but because of terminal velocity. At Atlanta, it’s more of a matter of grip than it is terminal velocity. We can go a lot faster if I could keep it wide open. At Atlanta it is still really fast, but it’s a mile-and-a-half instead of a two-and-a-half-mile track. It’s a lot tighter radius and really grippy on new tires.”

Do you have any concerns about the new rules package?
“I really don’t have any concerns. I think the tire at Atlanta will live. It’s the tires we take to other tracks that we need to be having that resembles the Atlanta tire. Its not always easy to replicate. Its easier said than done. Everyone looks forward to Atlanta.”

- Richard Childress Racing