Newman Ends Nationwide Season with Strong Seventh-Place Run

HOMESTEAD, Fla. – Gearing up for the final race of the 2009 NASCAR Nationwide Series season, Ryan Newman took over the driver seat of the No. 33 Copart Chevrolet. Making his fifth start of the season for Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) , Newman started the Ford 300 from the second position and ran the majority of the race in the top 10 before crossing the finish line in the seventh position.

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“I have to thank Ernie (Cope), the team and Kevin and DeLana (Harvick) for letting me drive the No. 33 car this season,” said Newman following the race. “It’s been a lot of fun and I appreciate the hard work and the opportunity. We had a good car, just needed a few more adjustments. Good run for the Copart Chevrolet.”

With the race underway at sunny Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway, Newman started from the second position, but slipped to third on lap one. Running in the top three, Newman radioed crew chief Ernie Cope that the car was a little too free off the corners. On lap 22 the second caution of the race waved and Cope brought Newman down pit road for the first stop of the day taking on four fresh tires with an air-pressure adjustment and fuel. As varying pit strategies of fuel only and teams opting to stay on track began to take shape, Newman restarted the race on lap 27 in the sixth spot.

Moving back into the top five, Newman was running fourth when the caution waved on lap 34. Deciding to stay out under the caution, Newman radioed Cope that the car was still loose and the team began devising a plan for changes on the next scheduled stop. The race restarted on lap 39 with Newman third.

Battling for position with Joey Logano on lap 50, Newman was able to maintain the third spot, but radioed the team that the car was tight in the center and loose off the corners. Continuing to click laps off from the third spot, the caution was again displayed on lap 79 for debris on the race track. The team made the decision to bring Newman to pit road for four tires with an air-pressure adjustment, fuel and a track-bar adjustment. With a fast stop by the Copart crew, Newman was on point to maintain his position exiting pit road when first gear broke, stalling the car on exit. Following a push from the team, Newman was able to return to the track and restart the race 11th on lap 84.

Concern over the missing gear proved not to be an issue as Newman continued to run fast laps comparable to the leaders and made his way back to the top five on lap 96.

Fighting a tight-handling car, Newman was able to stay in the top five as the 200-lap event progressed. As a long green-flag run approached, teams began making scheduled pit stops on lap 142. Cope called Newman to pit road for four tires with an air-pressure adjustment and fuel on lap 144. Several laps later as the field cycled through stops, Newman was scored in the 10th position on lap 154. Running solid, fast laps, Newman was able to get as high as third before slipping a few positions in the closing laps to finish the race seventh. The finish marked Newman’s fourth top-10 finish in five starts for KHI this season.

Kyle Busch won the race and the 2009 Nationwide Series championship, followed by Carl Edwards, Jeff Burton, Logano and Denny Hamlin.

The No. 33 KHI NNS team finished the season fourth in the 2009 NNS Owner’s point standings with two wins (both with KHI co-owner Kevin Harvick), 18 top-five and 25 top-10 finishes among seven different drivers.