Ryan Newman
If winning poles translated to winning races, Ryan Newman would be so far ahead of the pack in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series it would be laughable.
In a still young career in stock car racing’s big leagues, Newman, driver of the ALLTEL Dodge, has won 31 poles in his Cup career, four of those this year alone.
The key now is to do well enough to be involved in the Chase for the Championship that is run over the season’s final 10 races.
“I still have the same kind of mixed feelings that I’ve always had [about the Chase],” Newman says. “I’ve always said that from a competitor’s standpoint, I don’t think it’s the ideal points system. From a marketing standpoint, I said you can draw your own conclusions because that’s not what I get paid to do.
“It’s definitely equal for everybody. Everybody has an equal opportunity up until the last 10 races. You know, if you get into the Chase, then that’s great. We hope to do that. I really haven’t changed my outlook on it at all, other than the fact that that’s the points system we have to work with. That’s what we have to deal with, and that’s fine with me.”
One problem all drivers have been forced to deal with so far in 2005 is a seemingly inordinate number of wrecks. Newman has been caught up in several of them himself.
