Ryan Newman shot out of the box at Phoenix, but a bad tire forced him to play catch-up all day. Credit: Autostock

Newman nearly ends losing streak at PIR

Penske driver 0-for-9 from Bud Pole in 2004

AVONDALE, Ariz. -- Heading into Sunday's Checker Auto Parts 500 at Phoenix, Ryan Newman was 0-for-8 in winning from the Bud Pole in 2004.

Now, he's 0-for-9, but barely.

Newman (left) with crew chief Matt Borland. Newman is just 150 points out of the lead. Credit: Autostock

Newman finished second to race winner Dale Earnhardt Jr., leading the opening 59 laps.

"Our Dodge was running really well," Newman said. "But Junior got out in front of us and I think that's what made the difference. He pulled away from us, but coulda, woulda, shoulda."

Like so many others throughout the weekend in the desert, tires were an issue.

Newman suffered what appeared to be a flat tire on Lap 117 and spent the rest of the afternoon fighting back.

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"I think we had a tire going down and we decided to be safe and come in and pit," Newman said. "It cost us a lap, but the guys did a good job fighting back. It takes a great racecar to be able to do that."

Newman battled back into the top 10 on Lap 230, and slowly starting to gain ground on the leaders. By Lap 309, when NASCAR red-flagged the race after Robby Gordon's engine expired, Newman was third.

While many observers questioned the decision to red-flag the race evne with a green-white-checkered rule in place, Newman said it wasn't a very big deal.

Newman (left) finished just a few car lengths behind winner Dale Earnhardt Jr. (right). Credit: CIA Stock Photo

"I'm guessing it was probably more the gas thing than anything else," Newman said of NASCAR's decision. "I don't think it really mattered one way or the other."

The real issue, Newman said was track position.

"We had a great racecar. We just came up short," Newman said. "We've got it going on, just a little late.

"We just needed track position and we had to get it first and Junior got it first. We're happy to come home with second, not as happy as we would to come home with first, but happier than third.

CHECKER AUTO PARTS 500 •   Results •   Standings VIDEO Desert heat Harvick and Kahne get together after the race is over Final laps Two late cautions set up a three-lap sprint to the finish Double trouble Kenseth blows an engine for second week in a row Sadler in the wall Elliott Sadler cuts a tire and hits the wall on Lap 154 Bang-up job Several cars spin and crash on lap 128 Rim riding Kenseth blows a tire, bringing out the second caution

In 27 attempts from the Bud Pole, Newman has just three victories. He'll try to give himself another shot at it next weekend in the final Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway.

Newman will enter the egg-shaped oval 150 points behind series leader Kurt Busch, but says that won't put a damper on the excitement for him.

"There will be sparks flying, I can tell you that," Newman said. "But the bottom line is that you've still got to race the racetrack."

Regardless, the 2004 season-long Bud Pole Award winner says it'll be tough to gain ground in the points race on "the track too tough to tame."

"No matter what the competition is, whether it's for points or not, you can only do so much at a track like Darlington," he said. "In a situation where it's so much give and take, you have to give and take to be able to get yourself to the end of the race."