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Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Critics just don't 'get' Ryan Newman


Why do so many people like to pick on Ryan Newman?
Perhaps it has to do with his easy-going attitude. Or maybe it is because he doesn't quite fit into the same neatly-tied package as other race car drivers on the NASCAR circuit. Or, it is possible that some just don't 'get' Newman's sense of humor or understand the way he thinks.

Personally, I think all of those things are what make Ryan Newman unique. That combined with his skills behind the wheel is why he is my favorite driver. I 'get' Newman, which is why I like to challenge his critics.

The latest unfair rant against Newman was the one this morning from Michael Lowe of the Savannah Morning News at: http://savannahnow.com/share/blog-post/michael-lowe/2010-04-27/ryan-newman-wrong-about-talladega-racing
Lowe said Newman was wrong about Talladega. He criticized Newman's suggestion that races at Talladega should be eliminated from the points standings because what goes on there is not racing. He went on to give a brief history of the track and some of the great racing that has taken place there.

Lowe saying Newman blamed the Talladega track itself for the late-race crash that took him out of the Aaron's 499.

Newman went into the race 16th in the points standings. His momentum was positive, especially after a recent win at Phoenix and a top 12 finish at Texas. Of course Newman was ticked-off when he got booted by Joey Logano one too many times and got turned around.

But I say it is Lowe who got it wrong.

Newman was not criticizing the storied Alabama race track. In fact, Newman is very respectful of all of NASCAR's history. He was criticizing the nature of restrictor plate racing, which continues to undergo changes, seemingly at the whim of the sanctioning body. Newman didn't say the racing was bad at Talladega. In fact, he said quite the opposite, recognizing that it is a fan favorite, filled with excitement rich with on-track action.

Lowe's criticism that Newman blamed the race track for his own misfortune is just flat out wrong. As was stated in Bob Pockrass' column for SceneDaily.com entitled "Plenty of shared blame for multi-car wrecks" at http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/36785738/ns/sports-motor_sports/ Newman blamed "restrictor-plate racing in general."

That is more to the point. Look at some of the incidents that have taken place at restrictor-plate tracks in general and at Talladega in particular. Newman could write a book about his own incidents at Talladega. Newman has been involved in some of the most dramatic incidents there, and not of his own doing. But not just Newman, there have been countless other drivers as well. The racing during Sunday's race was spectacular. It was extremely exciting to watch. The Harvick/McMurray finish was stellar.

But I think Newman made that point. He doesn't want to stop racing at Talladega. He recognized that it is a crowd-pleaser. But, winning a championship, which is the ultimate goal of all of the drivers at the track that is based on points, should be under the control of the driver and his team. It should be based on their individual and combined skills. At Talladega, it is, as Dale Earnhardt, Jr. pointed out, "a lottery."

A successful NASCAR career should not be dependent upon a roll of the dice, a crap-shoot, or a lottery. It should be under the drivers' and teams' control.
Newman is right.

Drivers and race teams should be able to control their own destiny in the sport. And that isn't possible during a restrictor-plate race when speeds are manipulated, rules are imposed, and drivers are dependent on the actions of the others around them for which they have no control. Being pushed down the back stretch is not driving. Relying on a push to make your car go faster is not driving. And not driving is not racing.

Newman is a race car driver, not a fast bumper-car pilot.

19 comments:

  1. rip off the plates and let 'em race! Go Ryan!

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  2. You are absolutely right! Great blog!

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  3. I couldn't agree with you more. I am also one of Ryan Newman's many fans ! ! ! GO ARMY ! ! ! GO TORNADO MAN ! ! !

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  4. Thank you for taking up for RYAN. Go Newman. We love you and you do a great job. I agree with the other guy. Take off the plates and let them race. They just don't want Stock cars going faster than Indy cars.

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  5. Great blog! GO NEWMAN!!!

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  6. Thanks for writing this cause Ryan was and is right and glad someone else said it out loud!!!

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  7. thanks!! Ryan is and was right!!

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  8. I couldn't have said it better myself. Ryan Rocks!
    'Dega was far safer before we got the plates!

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  9. My thoughts are the strategy or seemed strategy that Ryans team has made over the last several plate races. In almost every incident he is coming to the front too late. With 20-30 laps to go everyone who is up front at that time seldom moves back unless they hang themselve in the middle. Move up to the top ten with 30-40 to go & most of those guys are well away from the crap that happens from 12th on back. I have also seen with other races that Ryan finishes in if he is in the top 10 most of the day he seems to stay there. When he is in the 13th to 18th or 22-26 positions most of the day that is where he finishes. Go beat the bumpers off Jimmy Johnson. I am sick of hearing his name all day long. Go stay in the top ten next weekend all day long & see if you dont get another win.

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  10. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I am so tired of Newman bashing I could just...well you fill in the blank. They misread everything that he says. The booth broadcasters are very much the same. To quote, Jeff Gordon...I am pissed. Ryan is the best...he's a great racer, a funny man and really good & genuine person. GO RYAN!!!

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  11. I too am a newman fan but like plate races drivers have to pedals one for gas one for break they can chose to use either or hangout in the back all day to the end. love you newman.

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  12. I second this motion...but I can't but help thinking Ryan has been WAAAAAY too nice in this regard. Earnhardt would put you in the wall and make no apologies for it. Sterling Marlin tried that once but it didn't turn out too well for those involved.

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  13. I couldn't have said it better myself! Thank you for taking up for Ryan. I am one of his biggest fans and I "get" everything he says. Go Rocketman!!

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  14. whoever wrote this blog should be writing for nascar.com, great letter! We need more biased letters from people discussing drivers and teams that don't get the respect they deserve.

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  15. Amen to everything. The nice clean drivers of NASCAR don't get near enough the respect they deserve!

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  16. I agree with Ryan Newman 100% He races an don't mess with anyone it is other drivers that usually get into him GO RYAN

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  17. Ryan is the best driver but gets cut down by the booth and the press!! I am one of his fans and have been for years, he is the one and only Rocketman and has my vote. I am so glad who ever wrote this article did a great job and needs to become a writer for NASCAR.They only know Jeff and Jimmie and I get sick and tired of there storys and the cry babies like Jimmie and Jeffey. Go Ryan show them what you have!!!!!

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