Race 2 Win: Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500

Nextel Cup Series

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Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 - Ryan Newman Notes

Ryan Newman/Atlanta Advance

Notes:

Ryan Newman, driver of the No. 12 Alltel/Mobil 1 Dodge, will make his eighth Atlanta Motor Speedway start and his 149th in the NASCAR Cup Series this Sunday.

In Newman's seven previous Atlanta starts, he has posted four top-10 finishes. His first three starts at the speedway each produced a 10th-place finish. His career-best finish, fifth, occurred in March 2004.

Newman's average AMS finish of 13.57 is third amongst "Chase" drivers.

In seven AMS qualifying attempts, Newman has earned five Bud Pole Awards, all in the last five races. Newman has posted six front-row starts. He started sixth in October 2002 when qualifying was canceled due to weather.

Newman's average AMS start of 1.857 leads all drivers.

Newman is the only active driver to have led at least one lap in each of his AMS starts. Newman has led a total of 156 laps at the 1.5-mile track.

Matt Borland, crew chief of the No. 12 Alltel/Mobil 1 Dodge, is taking chassis PRS-79 to Atlanta this weekend. PRS-79 most recently finished seventh at Lowe's Motor Speedway earlier this month.

Thus far in the 2005 "Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup," Newman is one of only two drivers to post five top-10 finishes.

The Alltel/Mobil 1 team's 10th-place finish at Martinsville Speedway, moved Newman to third in the "Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup" point standings. Newman trails the series point leader, Tony Stewart, by 63 points.

Newman and the Alltel team were ninth in the point standings at this time in the 2004 season.

Newman leads all 2005 NNCS competitors with 26 top-10 starts. He has posted a series-high six poles and 11 front-row starts.

Newman and the No. 12 team will return to the track in Mobil 1 colors this week. This is the final time Mobil 1 will be on the Dodge's hood during the 2005 season. Newman's previous Mobil 1 races this season have resulted in one victory, two top-five and three top-10 finishes and one pole.

The Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 will air live on NBC at 12 noon, EST on Sunday, Oct. 30 and can be heard on PRN Radio.

Stats:
Atlanta Motor Speedway Starts: 7
Races/Laps Led: 7/156
Best Start: 1 (Five Times)
Best Finish: 5 (March 2004)

Quotes:
Newman on Atlanta: "The Alltel/Mobil 1 team always takes a great qualifying car to Atlanta. I think our five consecutive poles have proven how good our cars are. Qualifying for us, is a total team effort and all of the guys put in just as much heart and effort as I do in getting the pole. This Friday night, we're shooting for our sixth straight, which would just be incredible. I don't think that sets any or breaks any records, but it's an important record for the Alltel team.

"Like I said last week, the Alltel/Mobil 1 team can't rely on top-10 finishes alone to win this championship. We're very happy with our new found consistency and the team truly is relaxed and confident in our abilities right now. But, a streak of top 10s is going to have turn into a streak of top fives and a few wins to secure the championship."

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