Race 2 Win: Chevy American Revolution 400

Nextel Cup Series

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Chevy American Revolution 400 - Ryan Newman Notes

Ryan Newman/Richmond Advance

Notes:

Ryan Newman, driver of the No. 12 ALLTEL Dodge will make his fifth start at Richmond International Raceway this Saturday. Newman won last fall's event at the .75-mile track and has two runner-up finishes at the facility.

Last fall, Newman earned his first career win at RIR after pushing fuel mileage and pulling away from the pack to earn his sixth victory of the 2003 season. In RIR's May event, Newman was leading when the rear gear in his ALLTEL Dodge failed. In his rookie season, Newman finished second in both events at RIR.

While Newman has yet to win a pole at RIR, his qualifying statistics at the short track are impressive. In four attempts, Newman has qualified in the top 10 for all but one race when he started 11th.

Newman has led in each of his four races at RIR for a total of 342 laps, 21 percent of total laps attempted. He is the only active NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series driver to lead every race in which he has competed at RIR.

Crew chief Matt Borland and the ALLTEL team will take chassis No. 59 to RIR this weekend. PRS-59 earned the name "Brutus" after winning at RIR last fall. Prior to that race, "Brutus" suffered brake problems last spring at Martinsville and rear gear problems in the May race at RIR. "Brutus" was named after Popeye's nemesis on the Popeye cartoon series.

The ALLTEL team sits seventh in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series point standings. At this time last season, the team was 25th in the standings.

Newman will be available for an open question and answer session with the media at 2:25 p.m., EDT at the back of the ALLTEL transporter on Friday, May 14th.

The Chevy American Revolution 400 at Richmond International Raceway will air live Saturday on FX, with pre-race beginning at 7 p.m., EDT. MRN Radio also will cover the event beginning at 7 p.m., EDT.

Quotes:

Newman on the newly-paved RIR: "It's got the same characteristics of 'the old' Richmond. It's different, but a good different-the bumps are gone in turn two and the track is really smooth. The biggest thing that changes the racing is the banking and where the walls are placed and none of that has changed. It drives the same, the walls are in the same spot and the SAFER barriers are there, so we're in good shape. The track will have more grip, but I don't think that is going to change the racing that much." Newman on his 2004 season: "The ALLTEL team is strong right now. At this point last season we were in a terrible slump and sitting 25th in points. While we haven't won a race yet, our main goal this season was to cut the DNFs and we've done that. We're more consistent this season. We watch the point standings, sure, but as long as we're in the top 10 at this point, we're good."

Stats:

Richmond International Raceway Starts: 4 Wins: 1 (September 2003) Races Led: 4 Laps Led: 342 Best Start: 2 (September 2002) Best Finish: 1 (September 2002)

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