NASCAR Cup
Newman Ready For Charlotte 600
Charlotte Motor Speedway
Edited: May 26, 2011, 7:12 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
More Than Just a Race Weekend for Newman, U.S. Army Team
CONCORD, N.C. -- Sunday's Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway is not just another Sprint Cup race for U.S. Army driver Ryan Newman.
The event is more than just being the longest of the season -- 400 laps, 600 miles. It is the annual race, contested on a patriotic weekend when the nation remembers its fallen heroes.
The traditional Memorial Day weekend classic at Charlotte's 1.5-mile oval has been a constant of NASCAR's rich heritage in the hub of stock car country.
How cool would it be to drive the Soldiers' car to Victory Lane on Memorial Day weekend ...
Ryan Newman
"The Coca-Cola 600 always carries more meaning for our No. 39 U.S. Army race team," said Newman. "Though it's a big weekend for motorsports, we must remember that it is also Memorial Day weekend, which is a time to pause and pay tribute to all the men and women of the military, past, present and future. Their bravery and strength as fighters for freedom have allowed us to do what we love to do."
A South Bend, Ind. native and Purdue University engineering graduate, Newman will be busting with Army pride this weekend as he attempts to improve on his already successful season.
After 11 of 36 races, Newman ranks seventh in the driver point standings with four top fives and five top 10s. But what is missing thus far from his 2011 portfolio is a victory. He knows that elusive win couldn't come at a better time for his Army team than on Memorial Day weekend.
"Our U.S. Army Chevrolet is definitely capable of winning this race," stated Newman, a 14-time tour winner. "How cool would it be to drive the Soldiers' car to Victory Lane on Memorial Day weekend -- I know that would put a lot of smiles on the faces of our brave Army Strong Soldiers. No question, it would be a dream win."
Ryan Newman, Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet
Photo by: Eric Gilbert
The Coca-Cola 600 is not only the longest race of the season, but also one of the most challenging for tuning the car since the race starts in daylight and ends under the lights.
"With the day and night time conditions, it's never the easiest race to tune for," explained Newman. "Regarding the length of the race -- it all depends how the car is handling and how hot it is outside. That additional 100 miles when you’re leading the race, and the car is pretty good-- it probably lasts forever. But it’s just another 100 miles. If the car is really misbalanced, fighting loose entry and struggling up by the fence, it can be miserable. Again, it all depends on how your car is handling.”
What Newman has enjoyed most at the Charlotte track is winning nine poles in 20 starts for an incredible 45% success rate. His first of the nine poles at Charlotte came in only his third career start in May 2001. His last two poles came in the previous two Coca Cola 600 races.
"The qualifying success has been great, but we need to have the same performance in the race," noted Newman, who has finished second twice at Charlotte -- in October 2003 and May 2009.
-source: shr
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Chevy Teams Charlotte pre-event quotes
Next article Regan Smith Ready For Charlotte 600
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Ryan Newman
Ryan Newman to make NASCAR Truck start with Kaulig and Ram
NASCAR Truck
NASCAR Truck
North Wilkesboro
Ryan Newman to make NASCAR Truck start with Kaulig and Ram
Ryan Newman: NASCAR Cup title "will always be on my radar"
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup
Ryan Newman: NASCAR Cup title "will always be on my radar"
"No memory" of Daytona wreck leaves Ryan Newman with no fear
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup
"No memory" of Daytona wreck leaves Ryan Newman with no fear
More from
Stewart-Haas Racing
The most unexpected driver and team breakups in modern NASCAR Cup history
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup
The most unexpected driver and team breakups in modern NASCAR Cup history
Sheldon Creed debuts a partnership on the cutting edge of brain optimization
NASCAR O'Reilly
NASCAR O'Reilly
Pocono
Sheldon Creed debuts a partnership on the cutting edge of brain optimization
Sheldon Creed 'paid the tax' and breaks through in NASCAR O'Reilly
NASCAR O'Reilly
NASCAR O'Reilly
Atlanta
Sheldon Creed 'paid the tax' and breaks through in NASCAR O'Reilly
Latest news
Jesse Love barely holds off Sam Mayer for NASCAR O'Reilly win at Phoenix
NASCAR O'Reilly
NOAP NASCAR O'Reilly
Phoenix II
2 h
Jesse Love barely holds off Sam Mayer for NASCAR O'Reilly win at Phoenix
Lando Norris faces anxious wait as F2 prepares to decide future of his racing team
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Singapore GP
5 h
Lando Norris faces anxious wait as F2 prepares to decide future of his racing team
NASCAR Cup Phoenix starting lineup: Blaney earns pole as Larson struggles
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Phoenix II
6 h
NASCAR Cup Phoenix starting lineup: Blaney earns pole as Larson struggles
Ryan Blaney kind of faces a must-win scenario this weekend at Phoenix
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Phoenix II
7 h
Ryan Blaney kind of faces a must-win scenario this weekend at Phoenix
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe