Race 2 Win: Tropicana 400 - Ryan Newman Notes

Nextel Cup Series

News and Results | Point Standings | 2004 Schedule | 2004 Teams | 2003 Schedule and Results

Tropicana 400 - Ryan Newman Notes

Ryan Newman/Chicago Advance

Notes:

Ryan Newman, driver of the No. 12 ALLTEL/Mobil 1 Dodge, will make his third career NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series start at Chicagoland Speedway this Sunday. Newman has earned one pole position and two top-five finishes at the speedway, including a victory in 2003.

Newman and the ALLTEL/Mobil 1 team scored their first career victory at Chicagoland Speedway last year. After starting 14th, Newman charged into the top-five, where he remained throughout the majority of the race. In the final stages, the ALLTEL/Mobil 1 team was able to stretch their fuel mileage further than any of its competitors to earn its third of eight victories in the 2003 season.

Newman earned the third pole position of his career at Chicagoland Speedway in 2002. Chicagoland is one of 12 NNCS tracks where Newman has earned a pole.

Newman is one of only five drivers to have earned two top-five finishes at Chicagoland Speedway.

Crew chief Matt Borland and the ALLTEL/Mobil 1 team will take chassis No. 44 to Chicagoland this weekend. PRS-44 was named "Wimpy" after sweeping the pole and the race at Pocono Raceway last July. "Wimpy" was named after Wimpy Wellington, the freeloading, hamburger-loving friend of Popeye.

Newman's No. 12 Dodge will feature the Mobil 1 paint scheme this weekend. The Mobil 1 paint scheme might be seen as a lucky charm for Newman and the No. 12 team. In 11 events with the Mobil 1 design, Newman has earned seven poles, three victories (including his first career Cup victory), five top fives and six top 10s. He has led 10 of the 11 races for a total of 473 laps.

Newman currently leads all active drivers with a 7.76 average starting position in 2004.

Newman is one of three drivers in the NNCS to have led at least one lap in 12 of 17 races this season.

Newman will be available for a media Q&A session at the ALLTEL transporter at 2:30 p.m. CDT, on Friday.

The No. 12 ALLTEL/Mobil 1 Dodge team sits ninth in the NNCS point standings. The team was 17th at this point in the season one year ago.

The Tropicana 400 at Chicagoland Speedway will air live on NBC at 2:30 p.m. CDT. MRN Radio also will cover the event, starting at 2:30 p.m. CDT.

Quotes:
Newman on Chicago: "With the ALLTEL/Mobil 1 team's success at this track, how could I not like it? The track is a lot like Michigan, smooth and fun to race on. To win at this track, a good car with good, consistent balance is a must. If you're off at all, you're way off and it's hard to come back from that.

"We've had great runs both times we've raced at Chicago. We might have had a chance in 2002 if we hadn't cut a tire down in the last couple of laps. Last year, we had a great car. Once we were out front, the clean air just made us faster. We stretched our fuel mileage too, and everything just added up for our third win.

"Mobil 1 will also be on our car this weekend, and for some reason that brings us good luck. We have great performances every time we run a special paint scheme, it seems like. They've been a great sponsor to work with, and hopefully we can give them another win this weekend."

Stats: Chicagoland Speedway Starts: 2 Victories: 1 (2003)
Poles: 1 (2002) Laps Led: 154 (2002 & 2003)

Appearances: Autograph Session, Walgreen's, Crystal Lake, Illinois, Thursday, July 8th, 4:00 p.m. CDT
Autograph Session, ALLTEL Team Caliber Souvenir Trailer, Chicagoland Speedway, Saturday, July 10th, 1:00 p.m. CDT.
Question and Answer Session, Dodge City, Chicagoland Speedway, Saturday, July 10th, 2:15 p.m. CDT.

News and Results | Point Standings | 2004 Schedule | 2004 Teams | 2003 Schedule and Results