Ryan Newman/All-Star Challenge Advance
Notes:
Ryan Newman, driver of the No. 12 Alltel Dodge, will make his fourth NASCAR NEXTEL All-Star Challenge this Saturday night. Newman won the event in 2002 and finished second in 2004.
Newman's 2002 victory was his first in NASCAR Cup competition. It was only the second time in the race's history that a rookie had won the event. He also became only the second driver to win the race after advancing through a qualifying race earlier in the night. Newman won the No Bull Sprint to earn the final starting position, 27th, in the All-Star event. He then held off a hard-charging Dale Earnrhardt Jr. for the victory.
Newman led 49 of 90 laps in the 2004 NASCAR NEXTEL All-Star Challenge. Newman and the Alltel team stayed out in the final segment while the majority of the field pitted for fresh tires. Matt Kenseth passed Newman with two laps remaining to steal the victory.
Newman qualified second for the 2004 NASCAR NEXTEL All-Star Challenge. His teammate Rusty Wallace earned the pole for the event, creating an all-Penske Racing South front row.
Matt Borland, crew chief of the No. 12 Alltel Dodge, is taking chassis PRS-76 to Lowe's Motor Speedway this weekend. PRS-76 was named "Viper" after winning the DHL 400 at Michigan International Speedway last season. "Viper" most recently led 47 laps at Darlington Raceway before a green-white-checkered finish left the Alltel team with a fifth-place finish.
The Alltel pit crew will participate in the inaugural NASCAR NEXTEL Pit Crew Challenge this Thursday night. The event will take place at the Charlotte Coliseum at 7 p.m., EDT.
Penske Racing South will host a fan fest and animal fundraiser at its new facility in Mooresville Business Park next Friday, May 27. The event will feature a concert, a memorabilia and bake sale, and autograph sessions by all three Penske Racing South drivers. The facility will also be open for the first time to the public. All proceeds will benefit local no-kill animal shelters.
Newman and the Alltel team moved three spots to seventh in the NNCS point standings following a third-place finish at Richmond International Raceway last Saturday. The team trails point leader, Jimmie Johnson, by 192 points.
The NASCAR NEXTEL All-Star Challenge at Lowe's Motor Speedway will air live on FX at 9 p.m., EDT on Saturday, May 21 and also can be heard on MRN Radio.
Stats:
All-Star Challenge Starts: 3
Victories: 1 (2002)
Best Start: 2 (2004)
Best Finish: 1 (2002)
Quotes:
Newman on the All-Star Challenge: "This is really the most exciting race of the year. Every driver puts it all out there. It's not a point's race so there's no holding back. There's no conservative racing. Second-place really means nothing in this race and that is in the back of your head the whole night.
"The 2002 Winston was really the Alltel team's first NASCAR Cup win. That race meant so much to us. Knowing that you beat the best of the best was incredible. Last year we gambled on tires and it didn't work out for us, but we were definitely close. It's a decision that we don't regret and we would've done just the same if we had another chance.
"We'll be good this weekend. We're taking 'Viper' back which was incredible at Darlington a couple of weeks ago. Following the past two weeks and two top-five finishes, the Alltel team is pretty pumped up. We know our first win this year is not too far off."
