NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES
MEDIA DAY
DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY
TEAM CHEVY DRIVER PRESS CONFERENCE TRANSCRIPT
FEBRUARY 14, 2013
RYAN NEWMAN, NO. 39 QUICKEN LOANS CHEVROLET SS, met with media and discussed the 2013 season, having three cars at SHR and other topics.
TALK ABOUT EXPECTATIONS FOR THE 2013 SEASON: “For me personally, 2013 is just a matter of going out and having fun. Having fun for me is winning races, winning poles, leading laps – all those types of things, which I know I am capable of. I feel like we have the equipment to do that. With Matt Borland (crew chief) leading the group of guys, looking of forward to having fun.”
ARE THERE ANY SPECIFIC TRACKS YOU ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO? “I think every track I have an opportunity to win at. Some maybe more than others. My stats are always the best, for whatever reason, on short, flat tracks. But I think I am capable of getting to Victory Lane at every type of race track or race car we drive.”
WHAT IS THE BIGGEST CHANGE FOR YOU THIS SEASON? “The new car is the biggest change. Nobody really knows what it is going to be like exactly at every race track, or in every different situation we are going to be in. I think it is an awesome looking car. I think it is great that NASCAR and the production market has tied themselves back together from a visual standpoint. We’ll see.”
WHAT CHANGES DO YOU EXPECT GOING TO THREE CARS AT STEWART-HAAS? “I have used the analogy before that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link, and when you add a whole other third to the chain, you have the opportunity for weaker links. As long as those links are strong, there’s no issue.”
DO YOU STILL GET A SPECIAL FEELING COMING INTO DAYTONA? “If we didn’t have to come here and do all this stuff (media day), it would be even more of a special charge. (LAUGHS) Absolutely! I don’t think many drivers enjoy coming and doing this, but it is a part of what we have to do for our sponsors and for our teams. It just happens to be the first race, and its grown bigger and bigger in the last 10 years I have been a part of this sport.”
DO YOU GET JITTERS?
“I wouldn’t say jitters. There’s an emotion to it, but I wouldn’t say jitters. Not like I’m nervous. Not like I have the butterflies. Part of me is excited, but I have to control that excitement. Part of me is anticipating but I have to control that anticipation. Every driver is different. Every driver has different characteristics when it comes to that emotionally and mentally.”
DOES IT GO AWAY FAST WHEN YOU GET IN THE CAR? “For some people. It’s different for everybody. For me, I never have it, so it’s not
an issue.”
WHEN YOU WERE GROWING UP, DID YOU HAVE A MOMENT IN YOUR LIFE WHEN YOU SAID YOU CAN DO THIS?
“I was 38 days old.”
WITH THE FOCUS ON HEAD INJURIES, HAVE YOU TAKEN THE TIME TO LOOK AT WHAT IS AVAILABLE AS FAR AS WHAT TESTING IS AVAILABLE, AND HOW MUCH ARE YOU A FAN OF THAT? “I
guess it’s been no rocket science that an injury has more potential to be damaging to the head than any other part of the body. But, for me personally, I have not done any extra testing. I haven’t been to any labs to diagnose my neutral or zero point, or whatever you want to call it. I haven’t put much emphasis on that.”
DO YOU LOOK FORWARD TO MAYBE DOING SOMETHING LIKE THAT? “I’m not usually wanting to be the first one to go be the baseline when it comes to those types of things. I would rather the system be worked out a little better than what I understand it is right now.”
WHAT IS YOUR ULTIMATE GOAL?
“To win the championship. I’ve been doing this for 10 years, and I feel like I am fully capable as a driver. I think that there is more than 12 teams capable of winning a championship, it’s just a matter of who does. It is much more competitive than it used to be.”
ARE YOU RUNNING ANY NATIONWIDE THIS YEAR? “There is a chance for it, but nothing is planned as of right now.”
