Deja vu for Ryan Newman; robbed at Pocono as Jeff Gordon declared winner in the rain

Jeff Gordon with the Subway Fresh Fit trophy in Victory Lane. Photo by Jordan McNerney, AARP. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)This isn't the first time that Ryan Newman got robbed at Pocono by NASCAR rules as Jeff Gordon is declared the winner of a rain-shortened race.

It happened Sunday when Newman, who had been fighting hard to race his way into position for the Chase for the Sprint Cup Championship, NASCAR's version of the playoffs. Newman had been 14th in points. Newman was in 6th place. Who knows what another restart would have meant to the final finish. A good run at Pocono chould have put him into 13th place and in contention for a wildcard spot.

But that isn't how it played out. On what became the final laps of the race, a crash by race leaders Jimmy Johnson and Matt Kenseth caused  Jeff Gordon to take the lead. There was no effort to hurry to restart the race, knowing that rain was imminent and only 60+ laps to go. In fact, there was a suspiciously long number of caution laps until the long-anticipated rain started falling. Instead of making an effort to finish the race after a rain delay, NASCAR called the race, announcing Gordon the winner.

NASCAR also apparently decided that Gordon, whose win caused him to tie with Ryan Newman at 611 points to take the 13th position in the standings, up two spots. Newman remained in 14th. The result is that Gordon is now the second wildcard spot for the Chase rather than Newman, who earned it.

The final wildcard berth was up for grabs when Kyle Busch who had it previously crashed early on and dropped out of contention. The 11th and 12th places in the Chase are meant for those drivers with the most wins. Kasey Kahne holds the first spot because he is credited with two wins.

NASCAR reasoned that because Gordon had more top 5 finishes than Newman. Personally, I think that is unfair since Newman earned the win and the good finish.

I think it was also unfair in 2007 also when the race at Pocono was called in Gordon's favor just as Newman was about to pass him. Don't remember that, here is the evidence. Newman, in second position was gaining fast when NASCAR halted the race and declared Gordon the win.

NASCAR points reward some; punish others

Indianapolis Motor Speedway. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It was another top 10 for Ryan Newman--this time--it came at the Brickyard.

I don't know about anyone else, but I certainly enjoyed hearing Greg Newman, Ryan's father, spotting for him today. Hearing Greg on Ryan's radio is a very comfortable combination, reminiscent of Newman's Daytona 500 win with his dad in the spotting stand.

It is so frustrating to watch Ryan run well, and finish well, but still fall short in the points standings. His position did not change. He remains 14th in points, which is on the outside looking in as far as the Chase for the Sprint Cup Championship is concerned.

There were certainly big changes just above Newman's position however, with poor Carl Edwards having trouble so early in the race. If the race for the Chase were held today, Edwards would not be in it. He was fortunate to lose only one position today. Even though he is in 12th position he still needs two wins to make the chase.

After the top 10 currently, Kasey Kahne would qualify for the Chase, despite being in 13th place, because he has won two races. Kyle Bush who is currently in 11th is behind him because he has only one win.

Newman is behind Busch, and ahead of Edwards, even though he is in 14th place, since he has one win.

This is totally confusing, and things certainly could change. There are six races before the field is set for the Chase.

According to Jayski's, these are the rules for the Chase:

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Chase System:
Twelve drivers will run the Chase
The top 10 in points following Race No. 26 -- the "cutoff" race -- to earn Chase berths.
The final two spots will be determined by the number of wins during the first 26 races.
Positions 11 and 12 are "wild card" qualifiers and will go to non-top-10-ranked drivers with the most wins, as long as they're ranked in the top 20 in points. Ties are broken by points position, then by 2nd place finishes, 3rd, etc.
The top-10 Chase drivers will be seeded based on wins during the first 26 races, with each win worth three bonus points.
The wild card drivers will not receive bonus points for wins and will be seeded 11th and 12th, respectively.
The top 12 drivers will be reset to 2000 points, drivers 1-10 will get three- bonus points per win.
Wild card drivers get no bonus points for wins

Congratulations to Jimmy Johnson, who won another one today. This makes his third win this season, joining Tony Stewart and Brad Keselowski who also won three races.

The only drivers in the top 15 that have not won a race this season, are: Kevin Harvick, Martin Truex, Edwards, and Jeff Gordon.

I'm certain that NASCAR is thrilled that Dale Earnhardt, Jr. has finally made it to the top of the points standings. He has lingered in the runner-up spot for weeks, but with the problems facing Matt Kenseth today, Junior just snuck right into the #1 place. Perhaps NASCAR can relax now that their favorite driver is in the cat-bird seat. And, perhaps we won't see any more changes to the points formula.

Ryan reflects on his new role

English: Ryan Newman stands beside his Number 39 Army Chevrolet Impala Sunday at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Newman finished the Sylvania 300, the first Chase for the Sprint Cup, in seventh place. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)Ryan Newman, driver of NASCAR's #39 car. I was moved by the blog he posted this week. Read it here to see why he is my favorite driver and one of my favorite NASCAR personalities.

Enjoy this off week with your family, Ryan and good luck next week at Indy.

Dale Earnhardt, Jr. to benefit from Federal spending

Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s #88 Nat'l Guard car

It seemed almost certain that the U.S. House of Representatives would nix federal spending in the form of military sponsorships in NASCAR.

After all, a House committee in a bi-partisan effort voted to ban such multi-million dollar frivolities. At the eleventh hour though, the amendment was withdrawn and spending for NASCAR sponsorships were allowed to continue.

While Dale Earnhardt, Jr. whose #88 car is sponsored by the National Guard, was a major beneficiary of the House of Representatives' change in thinking, that wasn't the case with Ryan Newman's #39 U.S. Army-sponsored race car.

Too late for Ryan Newman

Ryan Newman's #39 U.S. Army carJust a week before the final vote was taken on Capital Hill, the U.S. Army decided to withdraw sponsorship at Stewart-Haas Racing, the team that fields Newman's car, at the end of this season.

It is true that Junior's season has been the best he's had in recent years. He even won a race in June at Michigan, the first since 2008. He has shown consistency this season, evident by his being in second place in the points standings.

It is also true that even though Newman won at Martinsville in April, he has been in a slump since then.

Junior has one thing Newman will never have though--his infamous father. Dale Earnhardt has arguably been called the greatest NASCAR driver ever. He was certainly the most popular driver, which is a title his son has inherited.

Dale Earnhardt, Jr. has received benefits before because of his last name. He is looked upon as the golden boy. NASCAR announcers rarely miss an opportunity to sing his praises, sometimes when they are not even deserved.

Newman is the polar opposite; his achievements often go unnoticed.

I make no accusations, but it is not out of the realm of possibility that a little lobbying by NASCAR brass on Junior's behalf could have taken place just to keep him in the National Guard car. This wouldn't be the first time NASCAR has exerted favortism Junior's way.

The bottom line is that Newman is again the guy on the outside looking in--the one who has to try harder, just to achieve that equal footing. Not only is the loss of the U.S. Army as a sponsor troublesome for Newman, but the loss could be career-changing. Newman's contract is up at the end of this season. He has already been warned that if sponsorship cannot be found for next year, he may lose his ride at Stewart-Haas Racing.

There are certainly places he could go, and with his driving abilityt, he would be able to land a premier ride, but if nothing else, such uncertainty is a major distraction for someone on the border line of not making the top 12 in the NASCAR points ranking.

As a Newman fan, this is all just disheartening, especially since I know what my favorite driver is capable of. There remains plenty of time to turn it around before the Chase for the Championship is set. I can only feel for what Newman must be going through.

Ryan, Krissie Newman have second child

MARTINSVILLE, VA - APRIL 03: Ryan Newman, driver of the #39 car, stands with wife Krissie and their daughter Brooklyn Sage Newman on the grid prior to the start of a NASCAR Sprint Cup Race. (Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife)

Congratulations to NASCAR race car driver Ryan Newman and his wife Krissie on the birth of their second child, a daughter.

Ashlyn Olivia Newman was born in the afternoon Monday, July 16 just after her daddy raced his way to the Top 10 at New Hampshire the day before. Ashlyn has a big sister. Brooklyn Sage, the Newman's first child is just 20 months older than the baby.

Ashlyn's birth came just eight days after Kevin and DeLana Harvick had their first child, baby boy Keelan Paul Harvick.

Almost as if there was a pro-ordained schedule, neither driver--Newman nor Harvick--missed a step in the busy NASCAR race schedule. Newman had an especially busy week in New Hampshire, as he raced Saturday in the Whelen Series and in the NASCAR Sprint Cup series Sunday. Practice and qualifying filled any gaps in his busy schedule.

Race fans who follow Twitter on race day were well aware of both ladies' pregnancies, as DeLana and Krissie are both avid tweeters. They keep race  fans on top of the action on the track. At times, the two who are personal friends, they often shared messages with each other.

Congratulations to both the Newmans and the Harvicks.