NEWMAN FALLS SHORT IN MIDGET RACE

Ryan Newman took runner-up honors in his first-ever start in a Winged-Midget on Friday night in the Northeast Midget Association race at Lee Speedway in Lee, N.H.

After starting third in the 25-lap feature race, Newman wasted no time moving into the top spot. Newman used the outside groove and by the time the No. 39 Helping Hands of America/Hot Pepper Promotions racecar crossed the start/finish line to complete lap one, he was soundly in the lead.

Newman led the first 11-laps of the 25-lap race before the caution flag waved.

However, when the race restarted, Newman couldn't hold off the fierce challenge from his Bertrand Motorsports teammate, Randy Cabral.

Newman fell back into second-place and challenged his teammate in the closing laps, but he could not regain the top spot. Newman finished the night in second-place.

"We were probably one adjustment away from winning the race tonight," Newman said. "We just didn't have the car quite right. I had my hands full there at the end of the race. I was just trying to do everything that I could, but I couldn't catch up to Randy. I have to thank Tim Bertrand and everyone over there for letting me race the car, and I want to congratulate them on finishing one-two tonight.

Newman, who grew up racing Quarter-Midgets and Midgets, in the Midwest before making the jump to stock cars and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, but Friday day night was the first time he had piloted a Winged-Midget.

"I really had a lot of fun tonight," Newman said. "It's cool to go out to these tracks like Lee, race in the different cars and see the fans."

Newman has two more races on tap for the weekend. He will race on Saturday in the No. 7NY Aggessive Hydraulics Modified in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Series at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. On Sunday, Newman will pilot the No. 39 Haas Automation/U.S. Army Chevrolet in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. Live coverage of the Cup race begins at 1:30 p.m. EDT on TNT.