Ryan Newman, Contender

Oh Ryan Newman, you never make it easy on us devoted, B31IEVE in you die-hard fans.

You ran hard in the regular season. Then, you dazzled us at Chicagoland when you finished 4th; you tickled us at New Hampshire with a top 10 finish; you drove us to distraction at Dover when you just couldn't get any more out of your race car.

Your uncharacteristic 19th place finish was enough, barely enough, but enough to pull off a swift advance to the Contender Round of the Chase for the Championship. Lady Luck never treats you well, but she had her sites on some of your competitors this time--especially Jimmy Johnson--who is no longer a threat with his aim for seven. There had to be some heads shaking over his demise. A mechanical failure--worth five bucks--how did that get by Chad Knaus?

We watched breathlessly during the race, each time Kevin Harvick got behind you. Then all hopes were dashed each time he passed by. Even though we knew you were in good shape, starting the race 6th in points, but as the laps ticked by, our worries commenced. We held our collective breaths as the points were revealed, perhaps one too many times.

I just wanted to scream, "I know, I know!"

It seems you were completely "noticed" by the commentators, who generally pay you no mind. Then, at the anti-climactic ending, when you were in sitting-duck mode, the only car a lap down with no potential to race for points, Lady Luck once again concentrated on the other guys.

When we learned you made it to the next round, and with a point to spare. Whew! That was a squeaker. I'll thank you to not do that again!

With the first round behind you, you are back on an even playing field. As I write this, I'm hoping you and the guys are all back at the shop, tweaking, refining, reviewing, and planning how to get that #31 back to being as fast as she will go.

Good luck Ryan. You sure do make this fun for us. I hope I speak for the rest of us when I simply say, thank you for letting us spend our Sundays with you. You are the most enjoyable driver on the track and we just love to watch, even though you make us sweat a little, each and every week. Good luck to you, contender.

Ryan Newman's consistency pays off in first Chase race

Who wasn't proud of Ryan Newman on Sunday? He finished in fourth place at Chicagoland Speedway to start the Chase for the Sprint Cup Championship as he showed purpose, determination, and his signature consistency.

It was that consistency that nearly won him a championship last year.

NASCAR engineered the Chase for the Championship to give stock car racing an exciting playoff to end the season, not unlike other sports. Their most recent version of the Chase was billed as 'all about winning.'

Newman proved that isn't quite the case since he didn't win a single race last year, yet came nearly a hair's breadth from becoming the sports' champion.

Winning used to be everything in racing. It was a drivers' sport. But the rules have changed since a generation ago when all the decisions were made by the driver and his race team. There is more of an emphasis today on racing being a spectator sport. I don't see it that way and I admit it galls me a little when they call races a show for the fans. But this way, there is more money in it. While still a sport, racing now emphasizes it is more of a business.

Today, NASCAR is in complete control of the cars, the drivers, the tracks, the television viewing, the commentators; everything.

In an effort to create a greater spectacle, NASCAR has brought the latest adaptation to the sports' version of its championship playoff, with the Chase for the Championship. NASCAR thought they had the best of both worlds in their latest points system that awarded a point for each position gained on the track, a point for leading a lap, leading the most laps, and three points to the winner of the race. They advertised the new and improved Chase as having an emphasis on winning. Yet, Newman proved them wrong. Let's face it, as long as points are awarded, a mediocre or inexperienced driver who gets lucky and wins one or two, shouldn't be considered a champion. But consistency is also rewarded with points. That is where Newman excels, as he proved last year. There wasn't much NASCAR could do about it either, because he played by their rules. Race car drivers and his fans recognized that Newman worked hard to earn every point he got for which he was rewarded in the end.

Everyone had an opinion about the non-winning driver in championship contention. Comments at the end of last season were as varied as a Presidential race with Democrats and Republicans sniping at one another. And some of those comments were just as ugly. There were the Newman supporters, such as myself, who often faced off with fans of other drivers who didn't finish so well, who were flat out against a non-winner being eligible for a championship. There was a virtual war of words slung on social media and attached to magazine articles over Newman's being in the final four of the elimination round without winning a race. For those of us who follow Newman, we know he earned it. Announcers and even NASCAR knew he earned it.

But for those race fans who rarely saw Newman on the track, never saw him interviewed on television, or hardly ever even heard his name, they saw Newman as a johnny-come-lately who didn't deserve to be contending for a championship. For that, I blame those TV analysts that ignored Newman all season for whatever reason. I have my own ideas about why that is. In fact, I wrote a blog post last year that called Newman NASCAR's Rodney Dangerfield, because like the late comedian, Newman gets no respect.

NASCAR seemed to have it in for Newman too because he doesn't kowtow to them. He plays by the rules for the most part and uses the system to his advantage wherever he can. Basically, in my view, he outsmarts them and they don't take kindly to that. They also don't like that he is his own person and is not easily controlled. So when Newman bested two of the four drivers in the final heat of the Chase last year, coming in second, less than a half-second behind Kevin Harvick who ultimately won, some pretty nasty things were said.

The bottom line on Sunday, was that Ryan started the race in sixth position--based on the results of the first practice speed when qualifying was rained out. On on the last restart, Newman showed his championship potential. He restarted in 14th, after getting shuffled back in the prior restart. But during those closing six laps of the race, Ryan powered his car past ten others to finish fourth. It was amazing! It was a very good way to start the Chase for the Championship. As I've always said, Newman is the one to watch!

No regrets

Chicagoland Speedway, Joliet, IL

It isn't often that I regret no longer living in Illinois. I love my home in the Ozarks, living among the hardwoods and enjoying the scenery and watching birds and other wildlife right in my own backyard. Ah, retirement. 

Yet this is one time I'd consider sacrificing it all to be back in Illinois, where I used to live, not far from Chicagoland Speedway. I'd gladly dust off my press badge and would thrill to write about the weekend festivities at the track for the first race of the Chase for the 2015 Championship.  

I watched the Chicagoland Speedway being built. In fact I wrote about it once or twice for the paper I worked for in those days. I even recall a huge controversy about locating that track a few miles further east. I was against it, as were so many other folks; it really was the wrong location. That was the early 1990's, long before I ever watched a race or knew much of anything about NASCAR. My, how times have changed!

If I was still there, I would love to watch the first race of the Chase. I'd be there for practice and qualifying and I'd take lots of pictures. I'd have to put on my reporters' hat, so I'd have to balance coverage for the entire process and to all of the teams. Perhaps I could write a story about how the two Richard Childress teams--#31 Ryan Newman and #27 Paul Menard feel about being eligible for the 10-race Chase by making it in on points rather than conventionally, with a win. Perhaps I could write a first person story about being at the track for the first time. I'd undoubtedly find some way to meet my favorite driver and to interview him. 

Ryan doesn't get interviewed often, but I can guarantee I'd do him proud. After all, I'm a fan. 

But wait, that was my old life. And I don't believe in regrets. So, I will be content to just watch the race on TV, perhaps making a little snack--Race-Day Guacamole--. I always keep an eye on NASCAR's Live Leaderboard and listen to Ryan and Luke on the radio.

I have high hopes that Ryan will get all the resources necessary to make his race car fast enough to compete. If the car is good, there is no doubt Ryan can wheel it right to the front. 

Ryan knows his way around Chicagoland Speedway. He won in 2003 and has had three top-5s and eight top-10 finishes. He's led 182 laps there. 

While he raced his way into the Chase on points, he's proven once again that winning a race isn't the only prescription for success. His consistency has been outstanding, except perhaps for Richmond. Not sure what happened, except that the handling of the car just wasn't there. It was a nail-biter, as I watched his points total stuck failing to add up. But as always, Ryan pulled it off, securing enough points to remain in the Top 16.  This is the second time he's made the Chase without winning a race to get there, but he knows what he has to do. His team is willing to do their part to put the #31 in Victory Lane. 

So, I plan to just enjoy the race. 

I don't mind at all that I don't have to work on the weekend, take notes, photos, and put all the words together to come up with a story. There will be no traffic, no sunburn, no expensive ticket price, no missing aspects of Ryan's race because I'd have to concentrate on the job done by all the drivers. I rather enjoy being a no pressure spectator with a focus on just one driver. And as always, I have very high hopes.  

NASCAR and NBC

It is time to say something nice about NASCAR. I haven't done that in a while.

I know, I've been a bad blogger; I haven't written a thing here in several weeks. Thing is, as a retired journalist, I relish the fact that I no longer have to meet deadlines, so I write when I am inspired. I just haven't felt like it lately, but there was something I wanted to say after watching some of this afternoon's practice at Darlington.

I think #NASCAR did a good thing, by getting NBC to cover the sport. Adding Jeff Burton as an analyst has been a real plus. I enjoy his coverage of the races. Burton is intelligent, experienced, and he explains what is going on from a drivers' perspective. 

Burton is fair in his treatment of all the drivers, not singling out any one of them. He is honest about them and isn't so syrupy that it is nauseating. I'm especially impressed at how Burton has spoken honestly about Ryan Newman's performance, specifically citing Newman's potential to make the Chase for the Sprint Cup Championship this year. Burton has been there; in fact he used to drive Newman's car, prior to Newman's joining Richard Childress Racing. Other commentators have avoided coverage of Newman as if he is contagious; especially those from FOX and ABC. I think they are intimidated by Ryan's intellect and skittish about what he might say. Ryan speaks his mind and isn't going to be controlled by NASCAR or anyone. I don't think they get his dry sense of humor either. 

I have seen more interviews of Newman in recent weeks on NBC, which is heartening, since he does have a fascinating story to tell. He is a championship-caliber driver who makes the most out of what every situation. Whether it be a crash not of his doing, a poor performing race car, or even making a mistake himself, which he has no problem owning up to, Newman does the best he can with what he's got. His performance last year, finishing less than a second behind Kevin Harvick for the championship, should have shown the kind of stuff he is made of. Yet it was so often ignored. Instead, so much was made of his not winning a race last year, or this year either, for that matter, that what he has done has been ignored. Burton gets it, however. He understands the challenges of race car drivers, because he's done it for years. 

Burton respects Newman recognizes that Newman is not reckless, nor does he retaliate against other drivers. He has his own race to run and doesn't let pettiness get in his way. When he is wronged on the track, he doesn't focus on retaliation as some drivers have done. He has better things to do. Newman can think his way out of a situation and now seems to have the team to back him up. He and Crew Chief Luke Lambert seem to work very well together--in fact as well as Newman and Matt Borland from those early days when he drove for Roger Penske. 

With the Chase for the Championship nearly upon us, I have no doubt that Newman will participate. I'm hoping for nearly as much excitement as last year, which was a nail biter. 

So, way to go NASCAR, you finally did something I can agree with.

Ryan Newman consistent, even in criticism

I'm a blogger, but as a retired writer, I have afforded myself the luxury of writing when I feel like it. Today, I definitely feel like it after reading way too many disparaging remarks aimed at Ryan Newman who was critical of NASCAR after Sunday night's race.

I haven't posted lately because I've just been a little disgusted with NASCAR.

First there was that whole controversy regarding Ryan Newman's penalty that left him without a crew chief and several of his seasoned crew members for weeks. NASCAR penalized the #31 Richard Childress Racing team for tinkering with tires. Since then there have been other "cheating" incidents, but no one has had the proverbial book thrown at them as Newman has. Typical!

I cannot remain silent as Newman is defamed by so many NASCAR fans who seemingly enjoy bashing him. The comments I've read are positively ugly, mean-spirited, off-base, and in the view of anyone who has followed Newman, completely wrong.

Numerous ignorant comments have responded to Newman's remarks after the last lap crash at Daytona that started Sunday night, July 5 and finished early Monday morning, July 6 at 3 a.m. eastern time. I'm lucky to live in the central time zone, so it was only 2 a.m. for me.

Following the wreck which sent Newman's teammate Austin Dillon into the catch fence upside down and wrecked nearly every remaining car left in the field, Newman was quoted as saying, "NASCAR got what they wanted." He went on to criticize restrictor plate racing when he said. "Cars getting airborne, unsafe drivers, same old stuff. They just don't listen."

Fortunately Dillon wasn't seriously injured. A few fans in the grandstands were hit by flying debris, but none were seriously hurt.

Congratulations to Dale Earnhardt, Jr., who won the race after dominating the entire night.

First of all, as pointed out by Kyle Petty the following day, Newman spoke not long after the wreck occurred. Petty explained Newman's words as being said in the heat of the moment, intimating that emotions have to be taken into consideration when analyzing what Newman said.

When the wreck happened, Newman could see his teammate, Dillon, flying through the air just past his own rear quarter panel. Newman had been riding around in the back of the pack for most of the race, which is common practice for him, just to stay out of the melee that always ensues at restrictor plate tracks. The strategy paid off too, because Newman dodged three big wrecks Sunday night.

It is no secret that Newman has never been a fan of restrictor plate racing. As a race car driver, he wants to be the one to wheel his race car, to be in complete control of it. At Daytona and Talladega, there are plenty of times the driver is not in control of his own race car. Rather drivers are at the mercy of other drivers, some which aren't always very experienced. Let's face it, when 40 plus cars are driving nose to tail in three-wide conditions at 200 mph plus, one miniscule move can affect them all and often does.

Newman has been involved in numerous incidents at those two tracks that are just as horrific as the most recent wreck. Customarily, the wrecks are not of his own doing. Ryan Newman has certainly 'flown' before. See this story. To see other related stories, just type Talladega into the search box. 

Newman has consistently been outspoken about restrictor plate racing.

Back in the Fall of 2009 at Talladega, Newman's car was launched backwards into the air, did a back-flip onto the hood of Kevin Harvick's car, skidded upside down into the wall, where it rolled several times, finally coming to rest in the grass, on its roof.

This incident was the return to Talladega when just that Spring, a last lap crash caused Carl Edwards' car to flip into the catch fence. Newman was involved in that incident as well, as Edwards' airborne car flew into Newman's windshield as he raced for the checkered flag.

"It's just a product of this racing and what NASCAR has put us into with this box and these restrictor plates with these types of cars," Newman said after that Fall race. "The more rules, the more NASCAR is telling us how to drive the race cars, the less we can race, and the less we can put on a show for the fans."

"I will go back in the day, Richard Petty, Bobby Allison, Dale Earnhardt, Darrell Waltrip, all those guys, they respected each other. In the end there were some big accidents, but geez, we don't need the cars getting upside down like this. This is ridiculous." Newman, who holds a degree in mechanical engineering at Purdue University, said, "There is technology available that can help." He said it was a shame that not more is being done.

Following Newman's remarks, NASCAR levied a $50,000 fine against him for speaking out "against the brand." The fine was only made public after reporters discovered it. There have been no other 'secret' fines since that time, that anyone is aware of.

Newman has been consistent in his criticism of NASCAR as it relates to flying race cars. So, it is within this context of his experience and education that his comments must be considered.

In the closing laps at Talladega in 2013, when Ricky Stenhouse misjudged the distance to take his car four-wide, numerous cars were sent spinning, Kurt Busch's car flipped over and landed on top of Newman's car. Thankfully, no one was hurt.

"They can build safer race cars, they can build safer walls," Newman said at that time. "But they can't get their heads out of their asses far enough to keep them on the race track, and that's pretty disappointing. I wanted to make sure I get that point across. Y'all can figure out who 'they' is," Newman said. He was critical of NASCAR, citing poor judgement for starting the race in the dark and letting it continue when it was clearly raining.

Rain seems to be a real issue for NASCAR. That was the case Sunday night as well. The Daytona race was delayed because of rain. When it finally did begin, it started at about the time it normally would have finished. The race ended in the early morning hours, which might also have contributed to the plethora of bad crashes.

Even commentators acknowledged prior to the race that the lateness of the hour could cause more mistakes than usual.

Surprisingly, few comments have been made about the late hour. I can't help but wonder how many Newman haters even watched the entire race, or were they merely reacting to what others said. There definitely seems to be a trend lately, where comments are geared toward other comments, rather than in response to real facts.

I suppose the most galling for me is that when Newman criticized NASCAR about safety issues, he wasn't referring to overall safety issues. He has been very supportive of the work NASCAR has done in regard to safety.

After his own crash at Talladega in 2009, when he landed on his roof, it was recognized that more support was needed. NASCAR added an additional forward roof bar to the center roof support bar that intersects near the front center of the roll cage. The bar has been dubbed the Newman Bar.

While raucous fans are eager to spread their vitriol toward Ryan Newman, his remarks have been well-placed. Television news has started talking about restrictor plate racing. NASCAR is on the defensive, as they have gone out of their way to defend their efforts to make racing safer for drivers and fans alike. They speak about all that has been done since the 2001 crash ended the life of Dale Earnhardt.

It is amazing and wonderful that Austin Dillon walked away from what years ago could have been a life-ending wreck. So, yes, safety is being enhanced. But is it good enough? A different angle; a different speed? Safer barriers and the reinforced catch fence are better, but are they good enough? Flying debris should never hurt a race fan. Perhaps Newman is right, in that cars are still going airborne into the catch fence. For now, injuries have been relatively minor. But when planning for the protection of people's lives, there have to be what-if scenarios. Every angle must be considered. Good planning starts with asking all the right questions. Newman is asking them. It is time someone at NASCAR listens and uses its vast resources to act.