Newman Finishes 12th in Cup Finale; Stewart Captures Season Championship

HOMESTEAD, Fla. (Nov. 20, 2011) — Ryan Newman posted a 12th-place finish in Sunday’s Sprint Cup season finale, which was red-flagged twice for rain at  at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

While Newman ran a steady and solid race in his No. 39 U.S. Army Chevrolet all eyes were on his teammate and U.S. Army team owner Tony Stewart, who won the event and captured the Sprint Cup season championship in his No. 14 Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet.

Stewart and race runner-up Carl Edwards tied in final points (2403), but with five wins in the 10 Chase playoff races, the tiebreaker went to Stewart. The championship was the third for Stewart, who also won season titles in 2002 and 2005.

Newman finished 10th in points, his sixth career top-10 season points finish.

As soon as Newman exited his black and gold Army race car, he headed to Victory Lane to congratulate Stewart and the No. 14 team.

“An incredible performance by Tony and the No.14 team,” said Newman. “They fought hard and deserved the title. It’s kind of bittersweet when it’s not you, but it’s awesome when it’s your teammate. The championship is a morale builder for the entire Stewart-Haas Racing organization.”

Regarding the 267-lap, 400-mile race, Newman quickly marched to the front after starting 14th. He ran as high as second and virtually ran the entire race in or near the top-10.

“We wanted to be up there contending for the win, but things didn’t quite click for us at the end,” stated Newman. “Our Army Chevrolet was strong, but we couldn’t get the track position to make a move as the race was winding down.

“Overall we had a good season, but the downside was that we didn’t perform as well as we anticipated in the Chase,” explained Newman. “We wanted better results for our Army Strong Soldiers, who inspire this team week in and week out. Driving an Army-sponsored car is a privilege and we’re going to do everything we can to make our Soldiers even more proud of their car in 2012.

Following Stewart and Edwards to the checkered flag were: Martin Truex Jr. (third), Matt Kenseth (fourth) and Jeff Gordon (fifth).

The 2012 season kicks off Sunday, Feb. 26 with the traditional Daytona 500, NASCAR’s most prestigious race.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of SpeedwayMedia.com

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

RacingJunk.com and Leaf Racewear Safety Equipment Giveaway

Latest articles

SCHEDULE RELEASED FOR ACTION-PACKED 2025 SEASON IN THE NHRA LUCAS OIL DRAG RACING SERIES

The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, starring the best and most decorated sportsman drivers in drag racing, announced the schedule for the upcoming 2025 season.

RCR Race Preview: Phoenix Raceway

In 141 NASCAR Cup Series starts at Phoenix Raceway, Richard Childress Racing has scored six victories, led by Kevin Harvick with four wins.

7 Tips To Keep Your Porsche in the Best Condition

The way to ensure that you can enjoy your Porsche for as long as possible is to send it in for a regular service.

Blaney, Logano, Reddick, and Byron battle it out for the 2024 championship title

NASCAR heads to Phoenix Raceway this weekend for the season finale. The four drivers will compete for the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series championship title.

Best New Zealand Online Casinos