Ryan Newman Looking For Another Top Finish For Phoenix Racing At Chicago

Statesville, NC – Ryan Newman is set to be back in the seat of the No. 1 Chevy for Phoenix racing Friday night at Chicagoland Speedway. Newman’s appearance in the Dollar General 300 powered by Coca-Cola Nationwide Series race will be his fourth race of the season for owner James Finch and team.

“I guess James (Finch) is happy with what I’m doing because he keeps letting me drive his race cars, “ Newman said. “I have a lot of fun in the Nationwide car and especially enjoy racing at night. Chicago has always been a track I like in both the cup and nationwide cars. It’s a comfortable fit for me and my driving style, and I feel like I’ve had a bit of success there over the years.

“I ran this race last year for Dale, Jr. and had a pretty good car. I led a handful of laps, but wound up running out of fuel, so it caused for a night of playing catch up rather than racing for a win. I will be crossing my fingers that we don’t run into anything like that this time.”

Newman, who in addition to a win and a pole on the Cup side, has two Nationwide Series poles (2001 & 2005) at Chicago under his belt and will once again display the newest Pit Road Pets™: NASCAR Stars and Their Pets, The Second Lap book cover on the hood. Newman enjoys having what he considers his kids being on his race car.

“I think the dogs are a big hit with the kids (and adults) and sometimes I think they are more famous than I am,” Newman joked. “You know, I used to think I was sort of a big deal, but I guess not. Obviously, I am kidding on me being a big deal, but those dogs don’t even realize how good they’ve got it and how popular they are. Having the book on the hood is nice to have every once in a while.”

Newman heads to Chicago coming off his third top-10 finish of the season and will be back in the cockpit of the car he ran at Charlotte in May.

“We were hoping Daytona would have been kinder to us,” Newman added. “I was running fifth and thought I could gain a few spots at the end, but that last caution cost me a few spots, so I had to settle for eighth. We’re bringing back the same car we had at Charlotte and finished fifth. The two tracks are similar in layout and with the way you attack the corners.

I feel like we have a win sitting in our back pocket. I just need a little bit of luck getting it. Every time I get in the No. 1 car, I know I have a good shot at the pole and the trophy.”

For more information on Ryan Newman and the Ryan Newman Foundation, visit www.ryannewman.org or www.ryannewmanfoundation.org.

About the Ryan Newman Foundation:
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Ryan Newman and his wife, Krissie, established the Ryan Newman Foundation in January 2005. The mission of the foundation is to educate and encourage people to spay/neuter their pets and to adopt dogs and cats from animal shelters; to educate children and adults about the importance of conservation so the beauty of the great outdoors can be appreciated by future generations; and to provide college scholarship funding through the Rich Vogler Scholarship program to students interested in auto racing careers. The Ryan Newman Foundation is proud to be part of the NASCAR Foundation’s family of charities.