Ryan Newman -- Budweiser Shootout Advance
Shootout Notes:
Ryan Newman, driver of the No. 12 Alltel Dodge, will make his fifth career Budweiser Shootout start this Saturday.
Newman finished second in the 2005 Bud Shootout, his career-best finish. Newman started seventh and led four laps.
Matt Borland, crew chief of the No. 12 Alltel Dodge, and the Alltel team will take chassis PRS-99 to Daytona International Speedway for the Bud Shootout. PRS-99 has never been tested nor raced.
Newman earned the annual Bud Pole Award in 2005 with eight poles. The award was the fourth consecutive for the Alltel team.
Newman’s 35 career poles place him 18th on the all-time pole winners list and 10th on the modern era pole winners list. If Newman continues earning poles at this rate, he will likely take over the Modern Era lead in three years and the All-Time lead in 12 years.
Crew Changes:
Joe Piette, Jr., a long-time Alltel team member, will take over car chief duties for the 2006 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series season.
David Doyle, former member of the No. 2 Miller Lite team, joined the No. 12 Alltel crew on the road this season. Doyle will be in charge of the car's front suspension.
Lawrence Burch has joined the No. 12 Alltel team as the tire specialist. Burch formerly worked at Panther Racing in the Indy Racing League.
Chuck "Winky" Donaldson will take over interior duties on the No. 12 Alltel Dodge for the 2006 season.
Ben Brown will take over the role as front tire changer on the No. 12 over-the-wall crew this season. Brown was formerly a member of the team's pit support crew.
Quotes:
Newman on the Budweiser Shootout: "The Alltel team is picked as the favorite a lot of times to win poles, but I don't think we've ever been picked as the favorite to win the Bud Shootout. All of these poles mean a lot to us, but we'd really like to get a Shootout victory as well. We came close last year, but just couldn't pull it off in the end.
Newman on the importance of poles: "The Alltel team doesn't look at any moment on the race track as being more important than others. We put the same emphasis on each lap. We want to be the fastest car out there, in both the race and in qualifying. Our records show that we've had an easier time of doing that in qualifying, we've just got to get our race performance to match."
Stats:
Budweiser Shootout Starts: 4
2005 Season Poles: 8
Best Start: 7 (2005)
Best Finish: 2 (2005)
Appearances (2/9-2-14):
Budweiser Shootout Draw Party, The Daytona 500 Club, Thursday, Feb. 9 at 8 p.m., ET.
Motorsports Authentics Autograph Session, Ryan Newman Souvenir Trailer, Friday, Feb. 10 at 11:30 a.m., ET.
No. 12 Alltel Dodge Team Roster:
Driver: Ryan Newman
Crew Chief: Matt Borland
Engineer: Mike Nelson
Car Chief: Joe Piette, Jr.
Engine Tuner: John Payne
Front Suspension: David Doyle
Rear Suspension: Jerry Moody
Interior: Chuck Donaldson
Shocks: Roy Gangdal
Tires: Lawrence Burch
Truck Driver: Jack Kurtzner
Truck Driver: Rick Johnson
Front Tire Carrier: Scott Reineger
Front Tire Changer: Ben Brown
Rear Tire Carrier: Trent Cherry
Rear Tire Changer: Joe Piette, Jr.
Jackman: Mitch Lash
Catch Can Man: Steve Berner
Gasman: George Whitley
Spotter: Dave Kenny (Shootout Only)
Pit Support: Michael Warren
Pit Support: Britt Goodrich
