Loop Data shows Stewart, Newman right on target

By Official Release
March 27, 2009
02:57 PM EDT

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Coming into this season, the performance of Tony Stewart and Ryan Newman with "new" team Stewart-Haas Racing was arguably the biggest question mark. Both drivers had spent their entire careers with one organization -- Stewart logged 10 years with Joe Gibbs Racing, Newman had seven full seasons with Penske Racing.

After five races, Stewart sits solidly in seventh in the standings, while Newman is 27th. But comparing both drivers to past individual performances, Stewart has statistically dropped off, while Newman has stayed consistent.

Below are Stewart's statistics after five races. Though his rank remains in the top 12, his statistics have trailed off this season:

Tony Stewart

After Five Races (2005-Present)

Year	Rank	Avg. Fin.	Avg. Run Pos.	Fastest Laps Run	Laps T-15%	Led	Rating

2005	3	10.8	11.7	15	67.9%	107	93.7
2006	9	17.2	8.4	163	87.8%	397	110.9
2007	12	19.0	11.8	161	72.6%	441	108.5
2008	7	13.8	11.9	73	82.3%	289	101.3
2009	7	13.4	13.1	22	55.3%	18	92.7

Stewart's best may be yet to come. He ranks in the top five in three key Loop Data categories at Martinsville -- site of this Sunday's race -- since the inception of the statistics in 2005:

Tony Stewart

Martinsville Loop Data (Rating, Avg. Running Pos. and Fastest Laps Run)

Pos.	Driver	DR	Pos.	Driver	ARP	Pos.	Driver	FLR

1.	Jimmie Johnson	124.7	1.	Jimmie Johnson	6.4	1.	Jeff Gordon	467
2.	Jeff Gordon	124.0	2.	Jeff Gordon	6.7	2.	Jimmie Johnson	446
3.	Tony Stewart	113.7	3.	Tony Stewart	7.4	3.	Tony Stewart	312
4.	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	102.4	4.	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	10.4	4.	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	311
5.	Denny Hamlin	101.3	5.	Denny Hamlin	11.9	5.	Denny Hamlin	134

For much of this young 2009 season, Newman's outlook has been mostly gloom and doom. He finally notched a top-10 last Sunday, finishing seventh at Bristol. But the statistics suggest that his perceived subpar season isn't all bad -- especially when compared to past seasons. Newman's statistics through the first five races since 2005:

Ryan Newman

After Five Races (2005-Present)

Year	Rank	Avg. Fin.	Avg. Run Pos.	Fastest Laps Run	Laps T-15%	Led	Rating

2005	11	16.4	16.1	40	41.7%	50	89.6
2006	12	18.6	20.8	14	36.8%	25	73.9
2007	23	24.0	19.4	17	38.5%	2	72.7
2008	8	14.4	15.3	18	60.0%	11	85.3
2009	27	23.6	20.8	28	53.2%	28	71.7

Last season, Newman started off strong, winning the 50th running of the Daytona 500. So, comparing his 2008 and 2009 campaigns would clearly be unfair. But otherwise, this season's numbers match up with -- or better -- Newman's starts 2006 and 2007.