Race 2 Win: MBNA RacePoints 400

Nextel Cup Series

News and Results | Point Standings | 2005 Schedule | 2005 Teams | 2004 Schedule and Results

MBNA RacePoints 400 - Ryan Newman Notes

Ryan Newman/Dover Advance

NNCS Notes:

Ryan Newman, driver of the No. 12 Alltel Dodge, will make his eighth Dover International Speedway start and his 144th in the NASCAR Cup Series this Sunday.

In his seven previous Dover starts, Newman has posted four top-five and six top-10 finishes, including three victories. Newman led 325 of 400 laps in the 2004 MBNA RacePoints 400 at Dover. The Alltel team also swept the 2003 NASCAR Cup Series races at Dover.

Newman's average finish of 6.71 is second only to Tony Stewart in the top-10 drivers.

Newman has led a combined 602 laps at Dover in his seven starts. This leads all drivers for laps led at Dover International Speedway in the past 10 races there.

In seven qualifying attempts, Newman has posted six top-five starting positions, including one pole. Qualifying is important at Dover as eight of the last nine races there have been won from a top-10 starting position.

Newman's average start of 8.0 at Dover leads all active drivers.

Matt Borland, crew chief of the No. 12 Alltel Dodge, is taking chassis PRS-46 "Monster" to Dover this weekend. "Monster" earned its nickname after winning the 2004 MBNA RacePoints 400 at Dover. "Monster' finished fifth at both Lowe's Motor Speedway and Pocono Raceway this year.

By winning last Sunday's Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire International Speedway last Sunday, Newman moved to third place in the series' point standings, tied with Penske Racing South teammate Rusty Wallace. Newman is 40 points behind leader Tony Stewart. The Alltel team was ninth in the standings at this point in the 2004 season.

The Alltel pit crew won the Checkers/Rally's Double Drive-Thru Challenge again last Sunday at New Hampshire International Speedway. The team now leads the standings with six victories.

Ryan Newman and the Alltel team will test next Tuesday, September 27, at Kansas Speedway.

Newman has earned 22 top-10 starts this season, the most of all drivers.

On Monday, Krissie Newman along with members of the Ryan Newman Foundation and volunteers, will travel to Gulfport, Mississippi to work with Project HALO. The two organizations will deliver pet supplies and rescue pets. For more information on the trip and where to make donations, visit www.ryannewmanfoundation.org.

The MBNA RacePoints 400 will air live on TNT at 12:30 p.m., EDT on Sunday, Sept. 25 and can be heard on MRN Radio.

Stats:
Dover Starts: 7
Races/Laps Led: 4/602
Poles: 1 (June 2003)
Victories: 3 (June 2003, Sept. 2003, Sept. 2004)

Quotes:
Newman on Dover International Speedway: Dover is a fast track; a driver's track. This is an absolutely great track to have in the 'Chase.' The Alltel team has, continuously, run really well there. We already look forward to racing at Dover, and with last weekend's win in New Hampshire we're even more anxious to get there. This track is called the 'Monster Mile' to me because of its ability to just jump out there and bite you unexpectedly. Tires can be a real issue at Dover due to aggressive set-up combinations. It's not rare to see some right front tires go down throughout the race. Once a tire goes down there, your car is headed towards the wall and it's not going to be pretty. Dover just has a way of eating you up."

Newman on his "chase" outlook: "Winning at Loudon was great. There's no better way to start the chase off, especially when you're 10th in points. The Alltel team can't just kick back and relax now. We need nine more performances just like the one we had on Sunday. This will be a complete team effort. We need a string of nine top-five finishes to win this thing. So, that's what we're trying to do."

News and Results | Point Standings | 2005 Schedule | 2005 Teams | 2004 Schedule and Results