Ryan Newman has just one win in 2004 after leading the circuit in victories in 2003. Credit: Autostock

Newman shakes off early woes to close strong

After eight victories and nearly every pole position that was up for grabs -- it was really 14, but it seemed like every one -- in the 2003 season, Ryan Newman was one of the four or five drivers everyone figured would be in the catbird's seat for 2004.

It didn't quite work out like that, but Newman is in the Chase for the Championship nonetheless.

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After crashing at Daytona and finishing 31st, then finishing 27th at Las Vegas, Newman perked up and reeled off seven top-10s in the remaining 10 races through the first half of the chase to get in the mix.

The turning point of his season came at Michigan in June, when he won the first race of the season. He had been good all day, and when Jeff Gordon popped an engine, he was the best car remaining.

Over the second half, when Newman finished he finished well. Four top-fives and four top-10s -- including runs of second and fifth at Bristol and California when it really counted -- pushed him to eighth in the points with one race left. Before finishing second at Bristol, Newman had slipped to 13th, out of the Chase.

Six crashes -- including a tough one at Dover while leading -- helped keep the Rocket Man out of Victory Lane with his customary frequency.

One particularly brutal three-race stretch -- Lowe's, Dover and Pocono -- saw him blow an engine (35th), crash on Dover's slick and tight pit road entrance (24th) and blow again (30th), respectively.

While he wasn't the Rocket Man of last year, he was consistent when he had to be, and that's the reason he's in the final 10.

He won just five Bud Poles this season, too, which is mortal by comparison to last year, but he didn't win the title last year, either, despite the gaudy statistics. In 2004, Newman had just one victory, eight top-five and 11 top-10s.

Daytona 500: Although it wasn't as spectacular as his first big crash there, Newman's crash in this year's 500 relegated him to 31st at the finish.

Subway 400 at Rockingham: Back in form, Newman won the pole and finished sixth behind Kenseth.

UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 at Las Vegas: A 27th-place finish did nothing to add to the enthusiasm around the 12 transporter, but it could have been worse. Just ask Earnhardt Jr.

Golden Corral 500 at Atlanta: On the pole again, he earned his first top-five of the season with a fifth and led a lap.

Carolina Dodge Dealers 400 at Darlington: On a mini-roll, Newman was third at Darlington. Things were getting back to where they were last year.

Food City 500 at Bristol: Another pole, another top-10. Newman rolled to seventh at Bristol, a track he's traditionally been strong on.

Samsung/Radio Shack 500 at Texas: His second crash of the season led to a 39th-place result.

Advance Auto Parts 500 at Martinsville: Fifth place here made up for the disappointment of Texas. It was his third top-five of the season and fifth top-10.

Aaron's 499 at Talladega: He led here, but got caught in the usual struggle for track position at the end. He was 11th.

Auto Club 500 at California: Another top-five (third), another race where he led laps.

Chevy American Revolution 400 at Richmond: In the top 10 again, Newman was ninth at Richmond and filled with hope for the next few races, where he has been strong over the past two seasons.

Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's: So much for hope. Newman blew an engine and finished 35th.

MBNA 400 at Dover: With all that was wrong with this race, Newman got his share of it. While slowing down off Turn 4, Newman slipped on the apron trying to make the commit line for pit road and clouted the water barriers at the end of the pit wall. He lost 26 laps fixing it, and spent quite a while with a microphone in his face explaining what was wrong with the pit sequence at Dover. He wound up 24th.

Pocono 500: Another crash left him 30th at the finish.

DHL 400 at Michigan: If bad things come in threes, a trip to Michigan as the fourth race was a good one. Newman took over from Jeff Gordon when the latter cooked an engine and hustled to his first victory of the season.

Dodge/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma: A 14th-place finish at Sonoma is a moral victory at the very least. Especially when Jeff Gordon was slicing through the field like a combine at harvest time.

Pepsi 400 at Daytona: Once again, he led a lap, but finished 12th.

Tropicana 400 at Chicagoland: More wreckage from the Tony Stewart-Kasey Kahne restart confrontation. Newman wound up 24th with a busted race car.

Siemens 300 at New Hampshire: He was perhaps the best car all day at New Hampshire, but finished third after leading the most laps. Kurt Busch beat him off pit road on the final stop.

Pennsylvania 500 at Pocono: Better than June, but not as good as his usual. Newman was 13th at the finish and did not lead.

Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis: Another crash, another finish in the 30s (31st).

Sirius at the Glen: A lap down in 26th was the best he could muster here.

GFS Marketplace 400 at Michigan: Started 12th, finished 14th. Disappointing after winning in June. He also fell out of the top 10 with three races left.

Sharpie 500 at Bristol: Newman rallied hard near the end of the race and had a shot at Dale Earnhardt Jr., but the Bud Man was too strong and Newman settled for second. The finish put Newman back in the top 10 to stay.

Pop Secret 500 at California: When steady is needed, Newman can do it. He was steady and sharp at California, earning a fifth-place finish and solidifying his point position.

Chevy Rock and Roll 400 at Richmond: Despite finishing 20th, he was the last car in the Chase for the Championship, nipping Jamie McMurray and Kasey Kahne.