Race 2 Win: Subway 500 - Ryan Newman Notes

Nextel Cup Series

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Subway 500 - Ryan Newman Notes

Ryan Newman/Martinsville Advance

Notes:

Ryan Newman, driver of the No. 12 Alltel Dodge, will make his eighth Martinsville Speedway start and his 148th in the NASCAR Cup Series this Sunday.

In his seven previous Martinsville starts, Newman has posted four top-five finishes, all in his last four Martinsville races. Newman's average finish of 15. 857 is fifth among Chase drivers.

Newman led 25 laps and finished fourth at Martinsville in April. The October 2004 Martinsville race produced the infamous Wallace-Newman clash, with Newman finishing third, his career best finish at the half-mile track.

In seven races at Martinsville, Newman has led four of them for a total of 83 laps.

Newman has posted top-10 starts in all seven of his qualifying attempts at Martinsville Speedway, including two Bud Poles. Newman's average Martinsville start of 4.0 leads all active drivers.

Newman set the track qualifying record last October, with a single-lap time of 19.513 seconds for a speed of 97.043 mph.

Matt Borland, crew chief of the No. 12 Alltel Dodge, is taking chassis PRS-69 to Martinsville this weekend. PRS-69 posted top-five finishes at Martinsville in April and last October.

Although the Alltel team finished seventh at Lowe's Motor Speedway last Saturday, Newman dropped to fourth in the "Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup" point standings. Newman did, however, make up a 58 point deficit, trailing the point leaders, Tony Stewart and Jimmie Johnson, by merely 17 points.

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

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

Newman leads all 2005 NNCS competitors with 25 top-10 starts. He has posted a series-high six poles and 11 front-row starts.

The Subway 500 will air live on NBC at 12:30 p.m., EDT on Sunday, Oct. 23 and can be heard on MRN Radio.

Stats:
Martinsville Speedway Starts: 7
Races/Laps Led: 4/83
Best Start: 1 (Oct. 2002; Oct. 2004)
Best Finish: 3 (October 2004)

Quotes:
Newman on Martinsville: "We used to be absolutely horrible at Martinsville and that was because the driver would burn off the brakes. After we talked to him, we got him to settle down and drive the car right. We've always had fast cars there and that shows with our qualifying effort, but recently we got the package together for racing and I think we'll be better than we've ever been this time.

"We look at this race as one of the highest potentials to be able to move up in the standings. For us it's just a matter of getting it done, and it's not going to be easy. It was unfortunate for Tony [Stewart] to have his problems at Charlotte, but you just keep doing your best as a team and keep focused so you can capitalize on those things. We feel like we have a really good shot at running well and moving up in the points. I feel we have an opportunity to come out of Martinsville with the points lead if everything goes right."

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