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 seventh Richmond International Raceway start and his 127th in the NASCAR Cup Series this Saturday night.

In his six previous Richmond starts, Newman has posted four top-10 finishes, including a victory in September 2003. Newman finished runner-up in both Richmond starts during his rookie season.

Newman earned his first RIR pole last September. He has posted five straight top-five starts at the 0.75-mile track. He carries a 4.20 average RIR start.

Newman is the only NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series driver to have led at least one lap in each of his RIR starts. Newman has led a total of 354 laps in six starts.

Newman has been running at the finish in all six of his RIR starts.

Matt Borland, crew chief of the No. 12 Alltel Dodge, is taking chassis PRS-55 to RIR this weekend. In its four most recent starts, PRS-55 has posted three top-10 starts, including a pole at New Hampshire International Speedway last season and three top-five finishes.

The Alltel pit crew won the Checkers/Rally's Double Drive-Thru Challenge at Darlington Raceway last Saturday. This is the third time the Alltel team has earned the award, making them the sole leader in the running for the $100,000 grand prize at season's end.

Newman spent Monday and Tuesday of this week testing the Penske Racing South No. 39 NASCAR Busch Series entry at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Newman will return to the Busch Series on May 28 for the CarQuest Auto Parts 300 at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

Newman extended his streak of top-10 starts to 17 consecutive weeks last Friday with a second-place start at Darlington Raceway. Newman is the only driver in the NNCS to qualify in the top 10 for all 10 races this season.

Newman and the Alltel team moved five spots to 10th in the NNCS point standings following a fifth-place finish at Darlington Raceway last Saturday. The team trails point leader, Jimmie Johnson, by 314 points.

The Chevy American Revolution 400 at Richmond International Raceway will air live on FOX at 7 p.m., EDT on Saturday, May 14 and also can be heard on MRN Radio.

Stats:
Richmond International Raceway Starts: 6
Laps Led: 354 Best Start: 1 (September 2004)
Best Finish: 1 (September 2003)

Quotes:
Newman on Richmond: "Richmond is a great short track, probably the best short track we race on. The track offers a lot of tight racing, but there is still room to pass. But, with all short tracks, the opportunity for a lot of beating and banging exists. It's going to be a great race, but it always is at Richmond. And, I'll say it again, the fans can't get anything better than a Saturday night race. The car's look faster, and the race, overall, just seems more exciting."

Newman on the Alltel Team: "Not winning at Darlington last weekend was a tough one to swallow. I think we're all still a little disappointed over that one. But, in the same sense, we had a great race car. A car that was definitely capable of winning. We had a car capable of winning at Talladega too. After struggling a little at the beginning of the season, the past two weeks have been confidence boosters for the Alltel team. We may not have gotten the finishes we wanted, but we have had the performances we've been after."

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