Newman would like to pass on seconds

Chevy Monte Carlo 400 Results | Winston Cup Standings

RICHMOND, Va. -- If you were having dinner with Ryan Newman and asked if he wanted seconds, you might get a dirty look.

	It only took Ryan Newman's No. 12 Ford one lap to take the lead from Jimmie Johnson's No. 48 car Saturday. Credit: Autostock

Newman finished second in Saturday night's Chevrolet Monte Carlo 400 at Richmond International Raceway -- the fourth second-place effort for Newman this season.

"It's not really aggravating and it's not disappointing," said Newman, driver of the No. 12 Ford. "But, you always set your goals a little higher. Winning the race is something you really want to do.

"We're just trying everything we can do to it," he continued. "We just keep coming up one spot short haired a few times. But, we have to be happy at the same time how we're running being a rookie."

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The night was far from a total loss for Newman. He led three times for a race-high 145 laps -- compared to winner Matt Kenseth's 134 -- and moved up to 10th in the points.

"The guys did a good job in the pits and we came out first a couple of times there," Newman said. "It got a little tight there in that last run and when Matt (Kenseth) got by me there, I could hold my own but I couldn't catch them.

"I just kept getting tighter and tighter and he pulled away," he added. "The track had a couple of grooves to work with."

The rookie battle was a topic of discussion before the race since Jimmie Johnson starting on the pole inside of Newman. Johnson led only the first lap, before Newman took over for the next 142 circuits.

With Johnson finishing 13th, Newman now leads the rookie points battle by 15 over Johnson.