Sharpie 500

STEWART-HAAS RACING: WEEKEND LINEUP

Aug. 19-22, 2009

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series - Sharpie 500

Venue / Location: Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway (.533-mile oval)

SHR Driver Lineup: Tony Stewart in the No. 14 Office Depot / Old Spice Chevrolet Impala SS

Ryan Newman in the No. 39 U.S. Army / Haas Automation Chevrolet Impala SS

Qualifying: 5:30 p.m. EDT on Friday, Aug. 21 with live broadcast on ESPN2

Time / Date / TV: 6:30 p.m. EDT on Saturday, Aug. 22 with live broadcast on ESPN (race starts at 7:30 p.m.)

NASCAR Nationwide Series - Food City 250

Venue / Location: Bristol Motor Speedway

SHR Driver Lineup: Ryan Newman in the No. 5 Fastenal Chevrolet Impala SS (driving for JR Motorsports)

Qualifying: 4 p.m. EDT on Friday, Aug. 21 with live broadcast on SPEED

Time / Date / TV: 7:30 p.m. EDT on Friday, Aug. 21 with live broadcast on ESPN2 (race starts at 8 p.m.)

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series - O'Reilly 200

Venue / Location: Bristol Motor Speedway

SHR Driver Lineup: Ryan Newman in the No. 2 Pringles Chevrolet Silverado (driving for Kevin Harvick Inc.)

Qualifying: 4:40 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, Aug. 19

Time / Date / TV: 8 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, Aug. 19 with live broadcast on SPEED (race starts at 8:30 p.m.)

NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour - UNOH Perfect Storm 150

Venue / Location: Bristol Motor Speedway

SHR Driver Lineup: Ryan Newman in the No. 7 NY Aggressive Hydraulics Modified (driving for Gary Putnum and Kevin Manion)

Bobby Hutchens in the No. 14 Team Texas Driving School Modified (driving for Bobby Hutchens Racing)

Qualifying: 3 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, Aug. 19

Time / Date / TV: 6:15 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, Aug. 19

Facing a Daunting 4-race, 4-day Schedule, Newman Looking for Bristol Déjà Vu

BRISTOL, Tenn. (Aug. 19, 2009) -- Ryan Newman is set to embark on a herculean schedule -- going where no NASCAR driver has ever gone before. He will compete in four races in four days -- all at the ominous high-banked, half-mile oval of Bristol Motor Speedway.

Newman will drive in Wednesday night's double-header -- the 150-lap NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race followed by the 200-lap NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race. The demanding quadruple schedule continues on Friday night in the 250-lap Nationwide Series race and will culminate Saturday night in the 500-lap Sprint Cup featured event.

It's a total of 1,100 laps at the grueling motorsports bullring.

Newman will drive the modified car for owners Gary Putnam and Kevin "Bono" Manion, the Silverado truck for Kevin Harvick, Inc., the No. 5 Nationwide car for Jr. Motorsports and the No. 39 U.S. Army/Haas Automation Chevy Impala SS in the Cup race for Stewart-Haas Racing.

While fans ask why is Newman doing the "grand slam" schedule, the simplest version came from his boss and teammate Tony Stewart.

"I talked to Tony and asked him what he thought about the four-race schedule," stated Newman. "He asked me if anyone has ever done this and I said 'No'. He then said, 'You got to do it.' "

While the competitive Newman wants to win poles and races in the Bristol quadruple, he will be looking for some Bristol deja vu in Saturday's under-the-lights Cup race as he continues to battle for a spot in the Chase.

Entering Bristol, Newman is in ninth place and 66 points inside the Chase cutline, a position he has been in since the May 2 Richmond race.

Newman's last visit to Bristol in March was the start of his dramatic turnaround. He came to Bristol in 32nd place with a best result of 22nd in the first four races of 2009. He left Bristol with an impressive 7th-place result and went on to become a Chase driver, scoring eight top 10s in the following 10 races.

"Looking back, Bristol was a pivotal performance for the U.S. Army/Haas Automation team," recalled Newman. "The following week we finished sixth in Martinsville and later had a fourth in Richmond. The record shows that we have a strong short track program. We just need to continue to do what we've been doing in the Soldiers' car."

When asked what it's going to take to get into the Chase, Newman said, "I don't know what it's going to take exactly. All I know is we're going to try our best, do what we can with the U.S. Army/Haas Automation Chevrolet to put it in the best position at the end of the race.

"If that means being a little conservative, or risk a little bit, then we'll do it. It all depends on the situation and the points of other people at that time. I mean, you get top fives and you're in no matter what. But that hasn't been easy to do."

Newman added, "Everyone will tell you that Bristol has always been a game of survival. Everything happens so fast there. You don't have time to think or blink. I've always enjoyed the Bristol night race. I know fans didn't think there was enough bumping and banging last year. But to me the racing is better now. We can race side-by-side and actually gain spots without wrecking someone."

In 15 career Cup starts at Bristol, Newman has claimed eight top 10s. His best finish was second in the 2004 August race.

More Newman quotes about competing in four races at Bristol.

"It is going to be a challenge to compete in all four races, but I am really looking forward to it. It's a lot of miles, a lot of laps. I have done the Nationwide and Cup races on the back-to-back nights in August before, and that can be difficult. Throw in the Truck and the Modified race on Wednesday, and it's like I am running a second Cup race there. So, I know it is not going to be easy. I know it's going to be hot and sticky at Bristol. And always, Bristol is a very physically demanding track. I will have to be sure to stay hydrated and loose, and Bristol is as much a mental racetrack as a physical one. It's going to be fun and a challenge and I'm looking forward to it. I just hope that I can put on a good show for all of my sponsors and all of the fans out there who will be supporting me."

Newman's Bristol Career Record:

Year St FN

2002 8 37

14 36

2003 1 22

6 6

2004 1 7

4 2

2005 7 30

6 39 (crash)

2006 6 9

21 8

2007 22 39 (crash)

7 7

2008 13 33

11 6

2009 2 7

No. 39 Over-the-Wall Crew (city is hometown)

Front-tire changer: Scott Brzozowski, Sterling Heights, Mich.

Front-tire carrier: Josh Mick, Houston, Texas

Rear-tire changer: Daniel Rankin, Chattanooga, Tenn.

Rear-tire carrier: Jason Fowler, Winston-Salem, N.C.

Gasman: Michael Moore, Springfield, Mass.

Jackman: Andrew Turner, Coloma, Mich.

Catch Can: Andy Rueger, Seymour, Ind.

Windshield: Jay Guarneri, Naples, Fla.

___________________________________________________

Crew Chief: Tony Gibson, Daytona Beach, Fla.

Car Chief: Kevin Pennell, Kannapolis, N.C.

Spotter: Greg Newman, South Bend, Ind.

Engine Specialist: Jay Nolan, Jacksonville, Fla.

Engineer: Johnny Klausmeier, Perry Hall, Md.

Engine: Hendrick Motorsports

Shock Specialist: Brian Holshouser, Charlotte

Tire Specialist: Ray Osian, Salisbury, N.C.

Mechanic: Joe Cline, Maiden, N.C.

Mechanic: Shawn Warren, Concord, N.C.

Pit Support: Chris Miller, Kannapolis, N.C.

Truck Drivers: Rick Hodges, Raleigh, N.C.

Todd Cable, Shelby, N.C.

Newman Qualifies 9th for Bristol Cup Race

BRISTOL, Tenn. (Aug. 21, 2009) -- Ryan Newman will start ninth in Saturday night's Sharpie 500 Sprint Cup race at Bristol Motor Speedway.

In Friday's qualifying session at the half-mile oval, Newman's No. 39 U.S. Army/Haas Automation Chevy Impala SS recorded a lap time and speed of 15.519 seconds at 123.642 miles per hour.

"The U.S. Army/Haas Automation Chevrolet was loose, but we still managed to come away with a decent starting position," said Newman. "We did a lot of work on the car during the two practice sessions and it's a good feeling to know that we'll go into the race with a top-10 starting spot. We had a strong run here in the spring race (7th) and we're ready to have another one tomorrow night."

Newman's teammate, Tony Stewart, qualified 30th.

The pole winner was Mark Martin (124.484 mph). Rounding out the top-five in order were: Greg Biffle, Scott Speed, Dave Blaney and Matt Kenseth.

Saturday night's race will be televised on ESPN, beginning with a prerace show at 6:30 p.m. ET.

STEWART-HAAS RACING

Sharpie 500 Qualifying

Date: Aug. 21, 2009

Event: Sharpie 500 Qualifying (Round 24 of 36)

Series: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series

Location: Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway (.533-mile oval)

Pole Winner: Mark Martin of Hendrick Motorsports (15.414 seconds at 124.484 mph)

SHR Lineup: Ryan Newman (9^th, 15.519 seconds at 123.642 mph)

Tony Stewart (30^th, 15.661 seconds at 122.521 mph)

Ryan Newman, driver of the No. 39 U.S. Army/Haas Automation Chevrolet Impala SS, led the two-car Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) contingent in time trials at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway by qualifying ninth for Saturday night's Sharpie 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. Newman turned a lap of 15.519 seconds at 123.642 mph on the .533-mile oval.

"Coming to the green, our No. 39 U.S. Army/Haas Automation Chevrolet was sideways loose and I was just like ‘Oh, man,'" said Newman, who finished seventh at Bristol in the series' March visit to the track. "Although we were extremely loose, it was a pretty good lap for us, and it gave us a pretty solid starting spot right there in the top-10, which is what we are looking for. We had a really good run at Bristol in the spring, and that's what we need again tomorrow night to get ourselves in the Chase."

Tony Stewart, driver of the No. 14 Office Depot/Old Spice Chevrolet Impala SS for SHR, will start 30^th after turning a lap of 15.661 seconds at 122.521 mph.

"We were just way, way, way too tight on our qualifying run," said Stewart, who won at Bristol in August 2001.

Mark Martin captured his 46^th career pole, his fifth of the season and his ninth at Bristol by posting a lap of 15.414 seconds at 124.484 mph. Martin also won the pole for the March race at Bristol.

Greg Biffle will start alongside Martin on the outside of row one, as he timed in at 15.436 seconds at 124.307 mph. Rookie Scott Speed was third (15.456 seconds at 124.146 mph), while Dave Blaney (15.478 seconds at 123.970 mph) and Matt Kenseth (15.487 seconds at 123.897 mph) rounded out the top-five.

Forty-seven drivers attempted to qualify for the Sharpie 500. Aric Almirola and Mike Wallace were the only two drivers not to make the field.

As far as manufacturers went, Chevrolet took the top two spots thanks to the pole run of Martin. Ford was next best at the hands of Biffle, while Toyota was the third-fastest make thanks to Speed. Reed Sorenson, who qualified 10^th, was the top Dodge (15.523 seconds at 123.610 mph).

The Sharpie 500 gets underway at 7:30 p.m. EDT on Saturday, Aug. 22 with live coverage provided by ESPN beginning with its pre-race show at 6:30 p.m.

STEWART-HAAS RACING

Sharpie 500 Race Report

Date: Aug. 22, 2009

Event: Sharpie 500 (Round 24 of 36)

Series: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series

Location: Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway (.533-mile concrete oval)

Winner: Kyle Busch of Joe Gibbs Racing (Toyota)

SHR Finish: Ryan Newman (Started 9^th, Finished 6^th / Running, completed 500 of 500 laps)

Tony Stewart (Started 30^th, Finished 33^rd / Running, completed 489 of 500 laps)

Ryan Newman, driver of the No. 39 U.S. Army/Haas Automation Chevrolet Impala SS, led the two-car Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) contingent at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway by finishing sixth in Saturday night's Sharpie 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race.

Newman, who competed in four races over the course of three days at the .533-mile concrete oval this week, scored his tenth top-10 finish of the season and his second consecutive top-10 at Bristol.

Tony Stewart, driver of the No. 14 Office Depot/Old Spice Chevrolet Impala SS for SHR, finished 11 laps down in 33^rd after battling a myriad of radio and electrical issues throughout the 500-lap race.

Stewart remains atop the championship point standings, but his lead shrank to 220 points over second-place Jimmie Johnson. It's of little matter though, for Stewart clinched a spot in the 12-driver Chase for the Championship by simply starting last weekend's race at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn.

Newman, meanwhile, gained two spots to climb to seventh in the standings. He's now 569 points out of first and 84 points ahead of 13^th-place Kyle Busch. Only two races remain before the field is set for the final, 10-race Chase for the Championship.

Busch did all he could to crack the top-12 by leading the final 68 laps of the Sharpie 500 and beating Mark Martin across the stripe by .098 of a second. It was Busch's 16^th career Sprint Cup victory, his fourth of the season and his third at Bristol.

Finishing third behind Martin was Australian Marcos Ambrose, while Greg Biffle and Denny Hamlin rounded out the top-five. Newman, Kurt Busch, Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr., and Matt Kenseth comprised the remainder of the top-10.

There were 11 caution periods for 76 laps, with seven drivers failing to finish the 266.5-mile race.

The Sprint Cup Series takes a rare weekend off before returning to action Sept. 6 with the Pep Boys Auto 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The race begins at 7:30 p.m. EDT with live coverage provided by ESPN beginning with its pre-race show at 7 p.m.

Newman Charges to 6th-Place Finish in Bristol

BRISTOL, Tenn. (Aug. 22, 2009) -- A calculated pit strategy plus a late-race charge resulted in a sixth-place finish for Ryan Newman in Saturday night's Sharpie 500 Sprint Cup race at Bristol Motor Speedway.

The strong finish in the U.S. Army/Haas Automation Chevrolet vaulted Newman from ninth to seventh place in the driver point standings. He is 84 points inside the Chase cut line with two races remaining before NASCAR's championship playoff commences. (see driver standings below)

The pivotal point of the race for Newman and the No. 39 team was when crew chief Tony Gibson called for two tires while the majority of the teams took four following a caution for light rain on Lap 422 of 500. The decision paid off as Newman jumped nine positions -- from 11th to second -- when the race was restarted on Lap 432.

From that point on, Newman hung tough in the top 10. He was positioned in eighth place when the race was red-flagged on Lap 493 for a multicar accident. He went on to pick up two spots in the closing laps.

"Taking two tires was a good call by (crew chief) Tony Gibson," stated Newman, who ran in the top-12 for the majority of the race. "We came out second, got some track position and made the best of it by finishing sixth. The U.S. Army/Haas Automation Chevrolet was pretty good and we managed to come away with a strong finish."

"Ryan drove a great race and it was an awesome night for us," said Gibson. "We gambled a little by taking two tires at the end thinking the rain was going to come. Then I got a little nervous when the rain didn't come, but the U.S. Army Chevy ran great on two new tires. The pit crew really stepped up and did an outstanding job. We're like our Soldiers -- we fight hard every week no matter where we finish."

Newman's teammate, Tony Stewart, had radio issues and finished 33rd. He remains first in the point standings.

The race winner was Kyle Busch. Rounding out the top five in order were: Mark Martin, Marcos Ambrose, Greg Biffle and Denny Hamlin.

Saturday night's 500 lapper topped off a history-making week for Newman, who became the first NASCAR driver to compete in four races in the same week at the same track.

The Bristol quadruple had a slow start for Newman, who was involved in an early accident in Wednesday night's Modified race. He came back strong on the same night with a fourth-place finish in the Camping World Truck Series event. He also had a respectable run in Friday night's Nationwide race, finishing 13th.

"It was a challenging schedule but also plenty of fun," said Newman. "When you represent our Soldiers you know what it takes when it comes to preparation and mental toughness. I take a lot of pride wearing the Army uniform and every time I compete I want the Soldiers to know that we never give up and will always fight hard to complete the mission."

Newman and the Army team will continue that fight at the next Sprint Cup race -- Sept. 5 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Current Driver Point Standings:

1. Tony Stewart, 3564 points

2. Jimmie Johnson, 3344

3. Jeff Gordon, 3310

4. Denny Hamlin, 3141

5. Carl Edwards, 3110

6. Kurt Busch, 3103

7. Ryan Newman, 2995

8. Greg Biffle, 2986

9. Juan Pablo Montoya, 2975

10. Mark Martin, 2971