Chat Transcript: Ryan Newman

Canada29Fan: Hey congratulations on your win this week. Are you somewhat surprised you are in the top 10 after a last-place finish at Daytona? Are you also looking to set a trend with the man who finishes last at Daytona to be the champion for the second year in a row?

Ryan Newman: We are happy that we are doing as well as we are right now. We don't want to set any new trends. We just want to be the Winston Cup champion.

hawk83: Ryan, great job! On Sunday, FOX did not show how you got around Junior. How did it happen? Thanks, T.J.

Ryan Newman: I just got underneath him in Turn 4. He was tight and I just out-drag raced him coming out of Turn 1.

	Ryan Newman with teammate Rusty Wallace Credit: Autostock

stoman: Flyin' Ryan, congratulations on this past weekend and for the great qualifying runs of late. What are your thoughts on the common template? Keep up the good work!

Ryan Newman: I think the common template is what it is. People just have to deal with it. Our qualifying runs are just something we are focusing more on so we can get a great start to the weekend.

JG24JJ48: Hello Mr. Newman! Congratulations on your awesome win at Texas! Well, off to Talladega next week. Do you like the smaller fuel cells at the restrictor plates? Do you think they help at all?

Ryan Newman: I think it is the same for everyone -- more pit stops and it is harder on the brakes. In the end, the cars still get bunched up like they always did.

gordonfan2003: What made you pursue a career in racing, instead of engineering?

Ryan Newman: I started racing when I was 4 years old, so I have always pursued racing.

MYDEI: Ryan, congratulations on the Texas win and that great pit strategy. Are you going to keep up the tradition from last year with your team and the dress-up fun when you get the pole? As a race fan we loved it from week to week just to see who got lucky, and what the costume would be. Thanks and good luck at Talladega!

Ryan Newman: No, we are not going to continue that this year. We did enjoy doing that last year, but this year we are just going to concentrate on winning the poles.

Leadfoot02: Ryan, how has the transition been from Ford to Dodge this year for the ALLTEL team?

Ryan Newman: It has been a long and timely transition from changing 17 cars over, including all fabrication and engine work that goes in to it.

	Ryan Newman says he didn't know how severe his wreck at Daytona was until he saw it on videotape. Credit: Autostock

TxNewmanFan: Hey Ryan!! First off I would like to say that it was awesome watching you take the win Sunday from the stands. I would like to know what tracks you expect Rusty and yourself to do well at? Keep up the good work and stay safe.

Ryan Newman: We have both done well at Richmond and Loudon. Those are two tracks we ran well at last year and we hope to do the same this year.

2fastcathy: HI, RYAN! As a new edition to the NASCAR family, you are a fantastic driver!! What do you credit for your success? As for aspiring female drivers, like myself, how do you feel about racing against a woman?

Ryan Newman: I have had a lot of seat time and family help to get me where I am. I just look at each competitor as a competitor, and not as a male or female.

DeWaltRacing: Ryan, way to put the pedal to the metal every week. Being a driver for a living and a fisherman by hobby, what is your favorite track and fishing hole combination?

Ryan Newman: Pocono! And Michigan. There is great fishing at both of those places, and also great racetracks.

Mallory: How do you like the new rule changes regarding fan access to the garage area? What effect has this had on you and your team?

Ryan Newman: It has been pretty uneventful in terms of problems, but it certainly has its pros and cons. It is better for the teams and worse for the fans though.

RandR2and12: You seem to be good on all the types of tracks. Is there one track in particular where you think you struggle?

Ryan Newman: We have been struggling at Rockingham a lot. We have been good at qualifying there, but we just can't seem to get it together for the race.

Tx-Starlet: Hello, Ryan. I was wondering, taking on 2 tires at the end of the race seemed a bit of a gamble. Were you concerned at all about that decision after Junior passed you?

Ryan Newman: For sure! But once his handling went away, our chances got a lot better, and after that it was just a matter of time before I was able to get around him.

Smileytmroper: What is your opinion with the ruling concerning Gordon and Kenseth and letting the cars get a lap back?

	Ryan Newman

Ryan Newman: I don't think what happened in the race was right, and NASCAR admitted that. I hope it doesn't happen again in the future. I think they did uphold the Brian Vickers issue correctly though.

Penskefan4life: Congratulations on your big win. What is it like working with a guy like Rusty Wallace? Do you share a lot of pointers with each other or is it every man for himself?

Ryan Newman: We always share pointers, but in the midst of competition, some things get overlooked. We do the best we can as far as teammates go.

JG24JJ48: Hello Mr. Newman! Congratulations on your awesome win at Texas! My question is, did you celebrate your win at all after the race, or were you so worn out that you just dropped dead asleep?

Ryan Newman: We went home! Haha

FlyerMel: Ryan, congratulations on your win last weekend. I was wondering what you thought when you saw the video of your flips a couple weeks ago? It scared a bunch of us NASCAR and Ryan fans. We were all glad you walked away.

Ryan Newman: I saw it firsthand, so I didn't need to see the video! I was just happy to walk away.

JR8WB: HI Ryan, GREAT FINISH SUNDAY! Do you feel because you have an engineering degree that it gives you a greater advantage on how the car needs to be set up at a specific track?

Ryan Newman: It definitely helps me and the team because we all have a likeness in thinking when we try and set up the cars for certain tracks.

8Fan: Do you ever plan on having your own race team?

Ryan Newman: No.

Mallory: Who would you say is going to be your biggest competitor in chasing the Championship?

Ryan Newman: Two I would think, in Matt Kenseth and Jimmie Johnson.

ryan12_JJ48: Hey Ryan! Congratulations on your win at Texas! It was awesome :) I know that SI wrote that you would be the one to win the WINSTON CUP this year. Is it hard to live up to that kind of expectation? Thanks and best of luck to you and your team this season!

Ryan Newman: No. We are just going to do the best job we can and see where we end up at the end of the season. I thought it was cool that SI did that, but that doesn't mean we are going to win it.

VIDEO CLIPS Ryan Newman celebrates his second Winston Cup win. Play video Park, Spencer, and Elliott have trouble early at Texas Play video Elliott Sadler spins and makes hard contact with the wall Play video Cautions breed cautions after halfway at Texas Play video

dae5: Flyin` Ryan: Congratulations to you and the ALLTEL Dodge team (and Penske Racing as well) for finally getting a Dodge into Victory Circle this year! What was going through your mind when you actually became Flyin` Ryan at Daytona? Good luck and have a great season!

Ryan Newman: I am not "Flying Ryan;" I just had a crash at Daytona. I was just hanging on for the ride. I don't want that nickname to stick at all.

nifmot: Does Buddy Baker still have a lot to do with you race car?

Ryan Newman: Not a lot, but he still helps out. He will also be at Talladega this weekend to help me as well.

Mallory: Ryan, NASCAR wants to take away races from some tracks like Rockingham and Darlington. What is your opinion?

Ryan Newman: They are going to do what they want to do. Rockingham and Darlington aren't the biggest markets in the world, but they are awesome racetracks and I hope they consider that.

MI_Mayfield: Ryan, congratulations on your first win of the 2003 season! :o) My question is about your relationship with crew chief Matt Borland. You seem to have a great comradery and have jelled the team together pretty fast - besides having a common background in engineering, is there something else that sets you guys apart from the rest of the driver/crew chiefs?

Ryan Newman: Just chemistry really. Matt and I do hang out away from the track and go fishing sometimes.

RandR2and12: Are you going to run the Mobil 1 paint scheme again this year?

Ryan Newman: Yes, for five races, but I am not sure which ones yet, sorry!

fast98dodge: Ryan, congratulations on getting your first win this year and the first in your new Dodge. From an engineering perspective, how has it been so far dealing with the factory people at Dodge? Are they more involved in aerodynamics, engine development, chassis, etc. than what you experienced with Ford?

Ryan Newman: They are involved pretty heavily, and not just with the team, but with their own things. It is the same type of relationship we had with Ford, just with different people.

43petty: Ryan, good job! My question is how do you handle it when your car deteriorates during the run? Do you start driving the track and wait for adjustments, or continue the "pedal to the metal?" Good luck at Talladega!

Ryan Newman: We just continue to go as hard as you can with what you have to work with and hope to be able to fix based on adjustments when the time allows you to.

mopar_1919: First of all congratulations on the great win Sunday. I was just wondering do you think that after this win for the Dodges we will see big things happen for the rest of the season? Are you confident that you will see yourself again in the winner's circle?

Ryan Newman: I hope to! I don't have any guarantees though. I hope this doesn't really help the other Dodge teams -- I want ours in Victory Lane! Haha

zdzgnghj: Ryan, great win. When are we going to see you running in the Indy 500? Any open-wheel plans?

Ryan Newman: No, I don't have any plans for this year. I am not sure what the future holds yet.

cmuamandapa: Hi Ryan, what kind of "regular" cars do you drive?

Ryan Newman: I have a 2003 Dodge Ram 2500 pickup truck.

flyinryanfan: What do you feel contributes to your qualifying success?

Ryan Newman: Good team effort is what it takes to qualify well these days!

ChaPPs: Of all the drivers, who is your favorite person and who did you look up to when you were starting?

Ryan Newman: Dale Earnhardt, Sr.

NASCAR_SUNNY: Ryan, thank you for joining us. Do you have any closing comments for us today?

Ryan Newman: Thank you for your support for our team, NASCAR, and I hope to see you at the track sometime. Go to your local ALLTEL store when you can!