Ryan Newman A Place of Firsts

By:
On:
In: NASCAR Cup Series News

Pocono (Pa.) Raceway, the site of Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Party in the Poconos 400, is a flat, 2.5-mile track that is appropriately  nicknamed the “Tricky Triangle.” Over the years, the triangular layout has proven to be complicated and vexing to many drivers, but that has not been the case for Ryan Newman.

In fact, the demanding dynamic and the unique shape of Pocono have made the famed triangle a favorite of the South Bend, Ind., native. And his history at the 2.5-mile track isn’t too shabby, either.

Pocono Raceway was the site of Newman’s first-ever stock car victory on July 22, 2000. He scored the win in just his second start for Penske Racing in the ARCA series. He started on the outside pole and led 40 of the 80 laps en route to the dominating victory.

In 22 Sprint Cup starts at Pocono, Newman has finished outside the top-15 just five times. He has two poles, one win, seven top-five finishes and 10 top-10s.

Coming off a disappointing finish last weekend at Dover (Del.) International Speedway, Newman knows he’ll need to take advantage of this weekend’s race if he is to continue to put himself in position for a berth in the Chase for the Sprint Cup Championship.

Thirteen races remain before the 12-driver, 10-race Chase begins Sept. 15 at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill. Newman needs to return to what has been his form for much of the 2013 season – scoring top-10 finishes. He’ll need to work at turning those into top-fives, and even wins, to guarantee he’ll have a chance to contend for the championship. There’s no better place, and time, to start that than Sunday at Pocono.

With Haas Automation – the world’s largest CNC machine tool builder in the Western world – behind him and on his racecar’s hood at Pocono, Newman knows he has the “tools” to put his No. 39 Haas Automation Chevy at the front of the field.

TSC PR

Speedway Digest Staff
Follow Me
Latest posts by Speedway Digest Staff (see all)
Post Views: 43