2013 Will Make Or Break Newman’s Career
With Kevin Harvick officially coming to Stewart-Haas Racing in 2014, what does this mean for Ryan Newman? Does Tony Stewart have the resources to field four cars for an entire season. Is Ryan Newman the odd man out? I think unless Newman puts that No.39 car in victory lane a couple times, or at least contends for the championship from a fan’s standpoint, I don’t see Newman staying with this team. He will either be looking for a ride, or he will just stop racing.
Retirement does seem a bit early for Ryan Newman and maybe I’m a bit crazy, but you have to admit that this economy has left many drivers out looking for work. In this economy, it is harder to find a ride. If Newman were to leave Stewart-Haas Racing at the end of this upcoming season, it could mean retirement or it could mean racing for a lower-funded team than he is usually accommodated to. He won’t be racing for a Roger Penske or a Tony Stewart, but more like a James Finch or a Tommy Baldwin. He is in a really delicate situation. I’m pulling for him to get some wins this year, but it will be a difficult task with the competition the way it is now.
Some call 2003 a breakout year for Newman. It absolutely was a breakout year in terms of wins, but he ended up finishing 6th in the final points because of the amount of DNF’s that No.12 Alltel team had. Newman has only won eight races since then and the highest amount of wins he has had per season has been just two.
Newman did have one win last season at Martinsville, but that was caused by a wreck entering turn-1 that took Jeff Gordon, Clint Bowyer, and Jimmie Johnson all out of contention for what should have been Rick Hendrick’s 200th NASCAR victory.
He has never really made a serious run for the title and I honestly doubt that the Gen-6 car will see much of an improvement. When the COT was not in full swing yet, Newman still missed the Chase in 2006, and 2007. It’s going to be tough to find a new ride if this season is yet another mediocre one. If he doesn’t shine this season, we might not see Ryan Newman at all on the Sprint Cup circuit in 2014.
What do you all think?
NASCAR Reallocates Winnings In Effort To Discourage Start and Park
Just weeks after SMI chairman Bruton Smith called start and park teams a “disgrace to the sport”, NASCAR president Mike Helton has released news of a change in the way that purses would be paid out to competitors in positions 39 through 43 of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
In a statement on Tuesday, Helton said, “We moved prize money higher in the purse, so if someone’s intent is solely to run a lap or two and park, the revenue stream shrinks.” The reduction is an incremental $4,000.00 reduction, per position, from 39th to 43rd. The total purse per race is not reduced. Instead, the additional money shifts to higher ranking finishers, paying winners and those higher in the finishing order a little more. Basically, it works like this: 39th place is reduced by $4,000, 40th is $4,000 less than 39th, 41st is $4,000 less than 40th, and so on until you get to 43rd.
The immediate question is whether this will do anything to discourage small teams from starting and parking in an effort to get a payday. When some races pay upwards of $70,000.00 just to start, small teams can often use these mini “paydays” as a way to fund the next race and keep their hopes alive. There has been a lot of discussion about this over the last few weeks and the reality of the situation is that some of the small teams who have little to no sponsorship would not continue in the sport without the ability to do this.
Whether you believe it is, as Mr. Smith says, “…a disgrace to the sport,” or feel that it is okay if not abused, don’t expect to see start and park teams to disappear from the sport anytime soon. NASCAR has been very clear that they do not intend to change the rules to eliminate the practice any time in the near future.
Chad Walter Joins Michael Waltrip Racing
Chad Walter has left Penske Racing as crew chief to the No.12 of Sam Hornish Jr., and instead has accepted a role at Michael Waltrip Racing as their Director of Engineering.
During his tenure at Penske Racing, he was crew chief to both Justin Allgaier and most recently Sam Hornish Jr. He led both to fourth place points finishes in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.
Toward the end of the 2012 season, Walter was replaced by former NASCAR Sprint Cup Series crew chief, Greg Erwin. Erwin was known for being the crew chief for Greg Biffle for four seasons after a two year tenure with Robby Gordon Motorsports.
Walter worked for Hendrick Motorsports prior to joining Roger Penske’s stable in 2009, and served as crew chief for Kyle Busch, Mark Martin, and Ron Fellows. Walter was successful in getting all three to victory lane. He attended Cornell University where he joined the Formula Society of Automotive Engineers’ race car design team. Walter and his team won the national championship twice, enhancing his love for racing.
Walter will replace Steve Boyer who has served as the Director of Engineering at Michael Waltrip Racing for the past two seasons, but ultimately decided to resign and return to the private sector.
Aric Almirola Receives Great Sponsorship News
Aric Almirola received some good news as the United States Air Force confirmed that they will continue to sponsor Richard Petty Motorsports famed No.43 car. The Air Force will continue to serve as an associate sponsor on the car for 34 of the 36 races, while serving as a primary sponsor for the Coca-Cola 600 and the Coke Zero 400 honoring our fallen heroes and celebrating our nation’s independence.
This will be the Air Force’s 13th year as a sponsor in NASCAR since joining forces back in the year 2000 and this will be the fifth year they have been associated with Richard Petty Motorsports since they joined Elliott Sadler’s race team back in 2008.
Almirola is the perfect driver to represent the Air Force. His father is an Air Force veteran and we thank him for his service to our great nation, and Almirola himself was born at an Air Force base in Elgin, Florida. We wish him much luck this 2013 season.
