Ryan Newman was one of seven Fords in the top 10 in standings. Credit: Autostock
By Dave Rodman, Turner Sports Interactive
November 17, 2002
6:46 PM EST (2346 GMT)
HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- Within moments of finishing sixth in Sunday's Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Ryan Newman was announced as the 2002 Winston Cup Raybestos Rookie of the Year.
Newman, 24, ended up outscoring Jimmie Johnson in the rookie of the year points but, with Johnson's eighth place finish Sunday, he finished seven points behind Johnson in the championship.
Johnson, who won three points races, finished fifth in the championship and Newman, who won once, plus The Winston all-star race, was sixth.
Newman said Penske Racing was a definite 2003 championship contender.
"I thought about it for this year," Newman said, "and there's no reason why we shouldn't think about it next year, either."
|
;)
