NASCAR Cup

All-Star: Ryan Newman preview

Newman Heading Into All-Star Race With a Hot Pace; Says Next to Capturing Daytona 500, All-Star Victory was Biggest Win CONCORD, N.C. (May 12, 2009) -- As the NASCAR points battle switches to the prestigious battle of the Sprint All-Star Race this ...

Published: Jun 19, 2009, 7:54 PM

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Newman Heading Into All-Star Race With a Hot Pace; Says Next to Capturing Daytona 500, All-Star Victory was Biggest Win

CONCORD, N.C. (May 12, 2009) -- As the NASCAR points battle switches to the prestigious battle of the Sprint All-Star Race this weekend, Ryan Newman is looking to build on his recent performances, which have made him the hottest driver in the last three Sprint Cup races.

Not only has Newman recorded the best finishing average of 3.67 among all drivers in the last three Cup events, it's the first time he has posted three straight top fives since October 2005.

The current streak for the U.S. Army/Haas Automation driver started with a third-place finish in Talladega followed by back-to-back fourth-place results in Richmond and Darlington. The results have lifted Newman to eighth in the driver point standings after 11 races.

"The guys have done a great job and we're clicking," said Newman, driver of the No. 39 Chevy Impala SS for Stewart-Haas Racing. "To have three straight top fives definitely puts a smile on my face. We haven't won yet, but we're knocking at the door and we're going to get there. There's still a long way to go. The good news is that this Army team is heading in the right direction and we're looking for another strong run in the Soldiers' car."

Though Saturday night's All-Star Race at the 1.5-mile Lowe's Motor Speedway near Charlotte is not a points event, it carries plenty of prestige and pays a lot of money, including $1 million to the winner.

The 31-year-old Newman can speak first hand about the prestige of the All-Star Race. He won the event in 2002, his rookie season in the Cup series.

"Until I won the Daytona 500 (in 2008), the All-Star win was my greatest victory," said Newman, who edged Dale Earnhardt Jr. for the All-Star win. "We beat everybody on a given night in our backyard. We weren't racing for points but racing for glory and money, and it was a great win."

As a former All-Star Race winner, Newman has an automatic seed in Saturday night's main event, which will feature four segments of 50 laps, 20 laps, 20 laps and culminating with a 10-lap shootout with only green-flag laps counting.

Since the Charlotte area is the hub for NASCAR race teams, winning at Lowe's Motor Speedway always produces an added incentive according to Newman.

"It's Charlotte, it's home field," noted Newman. "There's no home field advantage, but it's home field. It's a very historic race track and a place we all try to shine at. There are a lot of great drivers who have won there. Joining that list is what we all search for."

Newman will have two opportunities to score a win at Lowe's Motor Speedway this weekend. He will also be competing in Friday night's Camping World Truck Series race, driving the No. 4 Chevrolet Silverado for Kevin Harvick Inc. It will be the second career Truck start for Newman, who won in his first Truck race -- at Atlanta Motor Speedway in October 2008.

-credit: pr

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