Newman Comes up Just Short in Quest for First Sprint Cup Title

Newman Comes up Just Short in Quest for First Sprint Cup Title

Nov. 16, 2014
By Seth Livingstone
NASCAR Wire Service

HOMESTEAD, Fla. – Without a victory this season, Ryan Newman couldn’t really point fingers at anyone when his heroic quest for a NASCAR Sprint Cup championship came up one position short Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway. But, in a tongue-in-cheek way, he did manage to point the fickle finger of blame at-–of all people–-Jeff Gordon.

“I was thinking, when I got out of the car, that our tables really turned when Gordon didn’t win Phoenix (last week),” Newman said. “If Gordon had won, then (Kevin) Harvick would have been out (of

the final four). So, I blame all this on Jeff Gordon.”

Newman was, of course, kidding, understanding the irony that Gordon was the odd man out after finishing second to Harvick at Phoenix–-and only after Newman used an aggressive last-lap strategy to

move up one position.

Furthermore, at Homestead, it was Gordon who elected to pit from the lead in the final 10 laps, giving the 36-year-old Richard Childress Racing driver his best shot at the title.

Not only that–-his best shot at a victory this season for the No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet.

“They say you’ve got to lose one before you win one. I’m ready to win one now,” said Newman, whose team produced arguably its best effort of the 2014 season in Sunday’s finale.

“We weren’t victorious, so we didn’t win many battles, but we sure came close to winning the war. … I drove my heart out, no doubt about that.”

If not for Harvick’s flawless effort, Newman would have had the racing world buzzing with the question: How just is it to crown a champion who did not win a race all season?

It’s still a question to ponder, but not one that Newman needed to dwell upon Sunday night as he lauded his team’s efforts.

“To come from where we came this year was amazing,” said Newman, in his first season with RCR. “We started the season at Daytona getting spun out in the last five laps and ended up running for a

championship. For me, this is the first real championship I’ve been in position to lose – the first time I’ve really had a shot at anything.

“It says a lot about the organization. It says a lot about how quick we grew. (Crew chief) Luke Lambert and all the guys did an awesome job – the whole RCR/ECR group. It’s been a whole lot of fun.”

Qualifying 21st, Newman fought an uphill fight throughout the race but clawed his way to fifth in the running order by Lap 72. Newman’s car proved to be excellent on fresh tires but drifted back

to the pack late in long runs.

“We fought back hard,” Newman said. “We were one spot short and probably (had) one caution too many for us. But that’s the way it happens. That’s part of racing. Kevin and those guys did a good job

of putting themselves in position and had the better tires in the end. It paid off for them.”

Lambert made a potentially decisive move when a crash involving Blake Koch and J.J. Yeley brought out a caution with 11 laps to go. Lambert took right side tires only, sending Newman out alongside

title contender Denny Hamlin, now on the front row but on older tires.

Newman, however, didn’t get the restart he had hoped and Harvick, restarting sixth on fresh tires, capitalized by sweeping to the lead within a lap. Harvick then managed to hold off Newman on one

final restart with three laps to go.

“Luke made a great call on that two-tire stop,” Newman said. “When Jeff pitted and gave us the front row, that caught me by surprise.

“We were in a good spot. Restarts haven’t been our strong suit with the package we run, but I was happy with the situation I was in. In the end, I was the one guy with a shot at (catching

Harvick). You live for that moment and drive hard and we just didn’t have quite enough.”

Newman, who raced his way into the Championship Round with a last-lap nudge of Kyle Larson at Phoenix a week ago, contemplated a similar scenario as he raced alongside Harvick late in the race. He resisted the urge.

“I thought about hauling it in there, wide open under Kevin, but that wasn’t the right thing to do,” Newman said. “I wouldn’t have wanted him to do that to me. … If we were close enough on the last

lap it might have been a different game. But I wasn’t. I slipped off of Turn 4 coming to the white (flag) and it was pretty much over.”

Newman, who has accumulated 17 victories and 51 Coors Light Poles during his Sprint Cup career, said that his Championship 4 Round experience will prepare him and his team at RCR for next season.

“We made a lot of adjustments on the race car today,” he said. “There’s a lot to be said about that. The guys did an awesome job. I’m proud of everyone. Hopefully we can have more fun and be one

spot better next year.”