RYAN NEWMAN
No. 12 ALLTEL DODGE CHARGER
BUDWEISER SHOOTOUT – NOTES & QUOTES

Ryan Newman, driver of the Penske Racing No. 12 Alltel Dodge Charger, will make his seventh start in the Budweiser Shootout on Saturday night. Newman made his first start in the Shootout in 2002, his rookie season in the NASCAR Cup Series. His best finish is second-place in 2005.

Newman ranks second in career poles earned by current full-time NASCAR Cup Series drivers. Newman has 42 poles. He won his first pole in his third career start (2001 -Lowe’s Motor Speedway).

The Shootout marks Newman’s first Cup race with crew chief Roy McCauley calling the shots for the No. 12 Alltel Dodge. Newman and McCauley were first paired together at Penske Racing in 2005 in a Nationwide Series effort that scored six victories in just nine starts.

Newman collected five poles in 2007—Atlanta, Charlotte (spring and fall), Dover and Pocono.

NEWMAN QUOTES
“We work really hard each year to win poles and have the No. 12 Alltel Dodge start up front. It’s an honor being in the Budweiser Shootout each year because it recognizes the hard work that the entire team has done to put our car on the pole.”

“Roy McCauley and I are really looking forward to the Shootout because it is our first race together since 2005. Our speedway program has been really good the past few years, and we think that we’re going to make a strong run in the Shootout.” MCCAULEY QUOTES
“We’re going to the Shootout with guns ablazing. I have no desire to lose a race or finish second in a race. We are there to win. We drafted a lot with our Alltel Dodge during testing, and we learned quite a bit about how the car will handle.”

“Ryan and I had a lot of fun together the first time we worked together in 2005. We have a lot of respect for each other. And that respect comes from the fact that we are both racers. That mutual respect is very important and Ryan and I see to eye to eye on that. We all have high expectations for this year.”

CHASSIS NOTES
PRS-517: Newman’s Shootout car has never been used in a superspeedway configuration. The team tested with it earlier this year at Daytona. “The Shootout will be a good preliminary for the 150s and how the cars and tires will react in the draft,” crew chief Roy McCauley said.

SPECIAL SATURDAY
“I’ve always wanted to give my dad a birthday present that he would never forget,” Newman has said.

This weekend, Newman will have just that chance. Newman’s father and spotter, Greg Newman, will be celebrating his birthday on Saturday — the night of the Budweiser Shootout.

“My dad has done more for me than I could ever repay him for. Celebrating in victory lane at Daytona on his birthday would mean the world to both of us. I would love to make that happen.”