Newman Ready for Last Installment of NASCAR History

BRISTOL, Tenn. – Success at Bristol Motor Speedway often centers more on survival and stamina than raw speed.

Ryan Newman knows the story and he’s prepared to write a new chapter.

The Purdue University graduate, who has the build of a college linebacker, entered all four races this week at the high-banked beacon of short track racing.

While Newman experienced mixed results in the first two legs of his planned 1,100-lap journey Wednesday night, he’s still on track to make NASCAR history. No other driver has ever attempted to compete in all of NASCAR’s top three divisions, as well as the Whelen Modified Series, at the same track in the same week.

Appearing at a press conference at BMS last month, Newman said the impetus for his unique quest was fundamental.

“I’m a racer,” Newman said. “I love to race; obviously, Bristol is a great race track.”

Part one of Newman’s adventure was not pretty. On the opening lap of Wednesday’s inaugural NASCAR Whelen Modified Series, Newman was involved in a five-car incident. He settled for a 37th place finish.

Newman fared much better in the Camping World Truck Series event, finishing fourth after earning the pole position.

The hectic schedule continued on Friday. After multiple practice sessions, Newman participated in the 4:10 p.m. qualifying session for the Food City 250 NASCAR Nationwide Series race. Newman is one of 12 drivers entered in both the Sprint Cup and Nationwide races.

Newman, 31, is currently involved in a tight battle to earn one of the 12 spots into the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship series. But Newman said his car owner, Tony Stewart, not only approved the BMS marathon but encouraged it.

“I asked Tony and he said ‘Heck, yeah, do it,’ ’’ Newman said. “It’s just like doing the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 in one weekend before anyone did that.”

Speaking with reporters during the weekly NASCAR teleconference Tuesday, Newman spoke of the mental and physical challenges of attempting four races.

“Yeah, it’s physical,” Newman said. “But staying hydrated, eating right, those are the biggest things. I don’t think pure muscle stamina or anything like that is going to be the biggest issue.

“Bristol is a place that you have to be mentally tough. We’ve always talked about how the emotions can run high and hot at Bristol. Part of that is one bleeding over to the other for lack of a better term.”

With just three races remaining before the start of Chase, Newman is one of several drivers who cannot afford an off-night. He currently ranks ninth in points, 66 points ahead of Brian Vickers in 13th.

Perhaps the hottest story of the weekend involves the mercurial Kyle Busch, who trails 12th place Mark Martin by 70 points. Vickers is 12 points behind Martin, while Clint Bowyer trails by 58 points.

Busch, who has five career wins at BMS, said he hopes to use Wednesday’s victory in the O’Reilly 200 Truck Series race as motivation.

“This [win] definitely helps out and gets me back in the right mindset,” said Busch, speaking in the postrace press conference. “I love coming to Bristol anyway in the fall.  I always run well here.

“I’m looking forward to the Nationwide race, we should have won five in a row on that side, but we’ve had pit issues or miscues by myself or whatever.”

Many critics feel that the issues Busch has with his emotions have spelled doom for his chances of qualifying for the Chase. Busch projected an optimistic approach Wednesday night.

“I’ve been frustrated lately thinking it’s been me that hasn’t been able to win races and when you can get a vehicle that’s capable of winning and you win with it…that shows that you still have it and you can still do it,” Busch said.

“We’ve been getting better on the Cup side. I feel like we have the opportunity to win these next three. Atlanta might be a little bit tough because the competition has really caught up to us here as of late. Just take a fifth and go to Richmond where we, for some reason, knock on wood, seem to run well.”