(WOMR file photo)
Earlier this month Stewart-Haas Racing told Ryan Newman to “hit the bricks” at the end of this season. Sunday Newman did one better, he won the Brickyard 400 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway!
Ryan Newman, now a job seeker, couldn’t have added a more important or timely accomplishment to his resume.
Taking advantage of an uncharacteristic glitch on pit road on the part of Jimmie Johnson’s No. 48 team, Newman grabbed the lead during a long cycle of late green-flag pit stops and held on to win Sunday’s Crown Royal presents the Samuel Deeds 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
The victory was Newman’s first at the Brickyard, at the only NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race in his native state. Newman won for the 17th time in his career and for the first time since April 2012 at Martinsville.
“Starting on the pole and winning the race,” Newman said, “just an awesome day for me. This is a dream come true.”
Hendrick Motorsports’ Johnson, the series points leader and the winner of last year’s Brickyard race, finished second – 2.657 seconds back.
Kasey Kahne, Johnson’s teammate finished third and Tony Stewart, who told Newman to hit the bricks, was fourth.
Matt Kenseth of Joe Gibbs Racing was fifth.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished sixth, Jeff Gordon seventh, Joey Logano eighth, Juan Pablo Montoya ninth, and Kyle Busch 10th.
From the outset of the race, Johnson and Newman were the dominate horses in the field, and it seemed inevitable they would settle the issue between them. Johnson spent just over 17 seconds in his pit stall taking four tires on his final stop. Newman’s two-tire stop lasted less than 12 seconds. Therein lies the difference in the outcome of the race!
As I mentioned earlier, it was nearly three weeks ago, Newman learned there wouldn’t be a ride for him next year at Stewart-Haas Racing, with Kevin Harvick scheduled to supplant him on the team and end Newman’s five-year stint with SHR. To a prospective new employer, Newman now can sell himself as the winner of two of the crown jewels of NASCAR racing, Daytona and Indy.
It was back in 2008 that he captured the 50th Daytona 500. On Sunday, Newman added the 20th renewal at the Brickyard to his portfolio.
Now, with this victory, it will be interesting to see where Ryan Newman will be employed for the 2014 season and beyond. Stay tuned, the action is just starting to heat up!
Check out the unofficial results from The Brickyard 400.
TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!
