TUMS Fast Relief 500

Newman, No. 39 Team Looking to Improve on Short Track Success

MARTINSVILLE, Va. (Oct. 20, 2009) -- Though the first-year U.S. Army/Haas Automation team achieved its priority goal of earning a berth in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, driver Ryan Newman says there's still one major goal to fulfill before the checkered flag falls on the 2009 season.

"We're still looking for that elusive team win," said Newman. "We've done a very good job as a team and as an organization, but we haven't won and there is a huge desire to win that first race. Hopefully we can accomplish that goal sooner rather than later."

Judging by the team's short track success, Newman could very well drive the No. 39 U.S. Army/Haas Automation Chevy Impala SS to Victory Lane following Sunday's TUMS Fast Relief 500 at the historic half-mile Martinsville Speedway.

Newman's finishing average in the five short track races contested this season is 6.6, including a sixth-place result at the Martinsville spring race. His other short track finishes were seventh and sixth at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway and fourth and 10th at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway.

"No question, the short track program has been one of our strong suits," noted Newman, who has 13 career Cup wins. "I look forward to going back to Martinsville, especially with the Hendrick support. And as we do each week, we're going to do everything we can to win for our Army Strong Soldiers."

Martinsville wasn't always a pleasant experience for Newman, who has garnered five top fives, seven top 10s and two poles in 15 career starts at the southern Virginia track. His best finish was second at the 2007 fall race.

"Once I figured out what to do with the brakes at Martinsville, I enjoyed racing there," noted Newman. "Martinsville is a fun racetrack as long as you stay out of trouble and keep those brakes cool. You go to a place like Michigan or California and it takes less driver and more car than it does at a short track in my opinion. That is one of the things I enjoy about Martinsville."

With five races remaining, Newman is eighth in the Chase driver standings. He gained two spots following his 11th-place finish in Saturday night's Cup race at Lowe's Motor Speedway near Charlotte.

"I'm not sitting at home calculating how many points we need -- it's all about performance," said Newman. "If our Stewart-Haas team has strong performances then the results and points will come. We have five races to go and a lot of things can still happen. I know it's a cliche, but it's one race at a time. And right now our focus is to get our U.S. Army/Haas Automation Chevy dialed in for Sunday's race at Martinsville."

Newman's Martinsville Career Cup Record:

Year St Fn

2002 10 41

1 15

2003 3 38

8 5

2004 3 5

1 3

2005 2 4

4 10

2006 4 18

4 13

2007 24 14

12 2

2008 13 19

16 23

2009 27 6

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 Grabs Pole at Martinsville

MARTINSVILLE, Va. (Oct. 23, 2009) -- In Friday's Sprint Cup time trials, U.S. Army/Haas Automation driver Ryan Newman captured the pole for Sunday's running of the TUMS Fast Relief 500 at the historic Martinsville Speedway.

Newman's blistering lap around the .526-mile oval was 19.563 seconds at 96.795 miles per hour. He beat out Jeff Gordon whose time and speed was 19.619 at 96.519. Qualifiers 3-5 were: Martin Truex Jr., Mark Martin and David Reutimann.

Newman's No. 1 qualifying mark was his third career pole at the Martinsville short track. It was also his second pole of the season and the 45th of his career. He is tied with Buck Baker for 11th in all-time Cup poles.

"I was really confident that I got everything out of it," said Newman, who enters Sunday's race eighth in the Chase points. "The U.S. Army/Haas Automation Chevy also hooked up real nice in race trim during today's practice. Tony Gibson (crew chief) and all the guys did an awesome job -- the Impala SS was a real pleasure to drive. It's a great start to the weekend and I hope this puts a big smile on the faces of our Army Strong Soldiers. The next mission is to drive the Soldiers' car to Victory Lane on Sunday."

Newman's teammate, Tony Stewart, qualified 13th.

Sunday's race will be televised on ABC, beginning with a prerace show at 1 p.m. ET.

STEWART-HAAS RACING

TUMS Fast Relief 500 Qualifying

Date: Oct. 23, 2009

Event: TUMS Fast Relief 500 Qualifying (Round 32 of 36)

Series: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series

Location: Martinsville (Va.) Speedway (.526-mile oval)

Pole Winner: Ryan Newman of Stewart-Haas Racing (19.563 seconds at 96.795 mph)

SHR Lineup: Ryan Newman (1^st, 19.563 seconds at 96.795 mph)

Tony Stewart (13^th, 19.761 seconds at 95.825 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 Martinsville (Va.) Speedway by winning the pole for Sunday's TUMS Fast Relief 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. Newman turned a lap of 19.563 seconds at 96.795 mph on the .526-mile oval.

It was Newman's 45^th career Sprint Cup pole, his second of the season and his third at Martinsville. He is now tied with Buck Baker for 11^th on NASCAR's all-time pole list.

"I think I got everything out of it I could have," Newman said. "It was a great lap for the U.S. Army/Haas Automation Chevrolet. Tony Gibson (crew chief) and the guys did a great job and the Hendrick horsepower was great. It has been a real pleasure to drive all day."

Tony Stewart, driver of the No. 14 Old Spice/Office Depot Chevrolet Impala SS for SHR, qualified 13^th with a time of 19.761 seconds at 95.825 mph.

"It was a decent lap for us in the Old Spice/Office Depot Chevy," said Stewart, who has two Sprint Cup wins at Martinsville. "I'm really proud of Ryan and the U.S. Army/Haas Automation guys. That's a great lap for those guys and I'd really like to see them get a victory before the season is over."

Jeff Gordon will start alongside Newman on the outside of row one (19.619 seconds at 96.519 mph), while Martin Truex Jr. (19.621 seconds at 96.509 mph), Mark Martin (19.622 seconds at 96.504 mph) and David Reutimann (19.701 seconds at 96.117 mph) rounded out the top-five.

Forty-four drivers attempted to qualify for the TUMS Fast Relief 500. Josh Wise was the lone driver who failed to make the 43-car field.

As far as manufacturers went, Chevrolet took the top four positions with the runs made by Newman, Gordon, Martin and Truex Jr. Toyota was next best at the hands of Reutimann, while the top Ford came courtesy of Bobby Labonte, who posted the eighth-fastest time (19.718 seconds at 96.010 mph). Dodge rounded out the manufacturers with ninth-quick Reed Sorenson (19.726 seconds at 95.995 mph).

The TUMS Fast Relief 500 gets underway at 1:30 p.m. EDT on Sunday, Oct. 25 with live coverage provided by ABC beginning with its pre-race show at 1 p.m.

Short Track Success Continues as Newman Finishes 7th in Martinsville

MARTINSVILLE, Va. (Oct. 25, 2009) -- Ryan Newman produced another strong short track result, finishing seventh in Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Martinsville Speedway.

Starting from the pole, Newman ran in the top five and top 10 for virtually the entire 500-lap race at the .526-mile oval. It appeared that he was going to come home with a top-five or better result, but an unfortunate exchange on a late green-flag pit stop plus a late caution curtailed his finish.

"We lost track position there at the end twice," noted Newman. "On that long green flag run, we came in fifth and came out like 15th. We just lost on that exchange and the caution at the end didn't help our cause.

The guys did a great job with the US Army/Haas Automation Chevrolet to finish seventh.

"We kept our nose clean the entire day and ran up there with those guys who are running for the championship. The pit crew did a good job and Tony Gibson (crew chief) called a good race. No complaints -- just have to go on from here."

In the Chase standings Newman gained one spot and is now seventh with four races remaining. He is 312 points behind the leader Jimmie Johnson.

"We're just going to go out there and race and not worry about points," stated Newman. "We want to continue to run strong in the last four races and hopefully get our first win of the season. We're going to fight hard and carry the Soldiers' motto of never quitting and battling to the finish."

The seventh place result in Sunday's TUMS Fast Relief 500 was Newman's sixth top-10 finish in the six short tracks races contested this season. He achieved a 6.66 finishing average in those six short track events - two at Bristol, two at Richmond and two at Martinsville.

"The short tracks are a strong part of our program," said Newman. "We're a first-year team and want to keep on building a strong baseline for the future."

Newman's teammate, Tony Stewart, finished ninth. He remains fourth in the Chase standings, 192 points behind Johnson.

The race winner was Denny Hamlin. Rounding out the top-five in order were: Johnson, Juan Pablo Montoya, Kyle Busch and Jeff Gordon.

The next race for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is Sunday (Nov. 1) at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway.

STEWART-HAAS RACING

TUMS Fast Relief 500 Race Report

Date: Oct. 25, 2009

Event: TUMS Fast Relief 500 (Round 32 of 36)

Series: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series

Location: Martinsville (Va.) Speedway (.526-mile oval)

Winner: Denny Hamlin of Joe Gibbs Racing in a green-white-checkered finish (Toyota)

SHR Finish: Ryan Newman (Started 1^st, Finished 7^th / Running, completed 501 of 501 laps)

Tony Stewart (Started 13^th, Finished 9^th / Running, completed 501 of 501 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 Martinsville (Va.) Speedway by finishing seventh in Sunday's TUMS Fast Relief 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. It was Newman's 15^th top-10 finish of 2009 and his eighth in 16 career Sprint Cup starts at Martinsville.

Tony Stewart, driver of the No. 14 Old Spice/Office Depot Chevrolet Impala SS for SHR, finished ninth to score his 22^nd top-10 of the season and his 13^th in 22 career Sprint Cup starts at Martinsville.

The last time both SHR cars finished in the top-10 came in September at Dover (Del.) International Speedway where Stewart finished ninth and Newman placed 10^th.

Denny Hamlin beat three-time and reigning Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson under caution to win the TUMS Fast Relief 500 and score his seventh career Sprint Cup victory, his third of the season and his second at Martinsville.

Juan Pablo Montoya finished third, while Kyle Busch and Jeff Gordon rounded out the top-five. Jamie McMurray, Newman, Mark Martin, Stewart and Kevin Harvick comprised the remainder of the top-10.

There were 15 caution periods for 77 laps, with 11 drivers failing to finish the 501-lap race, which was extended one lap past its originally scheduled distance due to a green-white-checkered finish.

Both SHR drivers are represented in this year's Chase for the Championship. Stewart remained fourth in the standings, but is now 192 points behind Chase leader Johnson. Newman gained one spot to climb to seventh, where he is 312 markers out of first.

With only four races remaining before a champion is crowned following the season finale Nov. 22 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, the top-12 drivers competing for the title rank as follows:

1. Jimmie Johnson (6,098 points) +/-0
2. Mark Martin (5,980 points, -118) +/-0
3. Jeff Gordon (5,948 points, -150) +/-0

•4. Tony Stewart (5,906 points, -192) +/-0

5. Juan Pablo Montoya (5,898 points, -200) +1
6. Kurt Busch (5,858 points, -240) -1

•7. Ryan Newman (5,786 points, -312) +1

8. Greg Biffle (5,748 points, -350) -1
9. Denny Hamlin (5,746 points, -352) +2
10. Carl Edwards (5,685 points, -413) +/-0
11. Kasey Kahne (5,659 points, -439) -2
12. Brian Vickers (5,568 points, -530) +/-0

The next event on the Sprint Cup schedule is the Nov. 1 AMP Energy 500 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway. The race begins at 1 p.m. EDT with live coverage provided by ABC beginning with its pre-race show at noon.