Catchfence

Ryan Newman is preparing to make his second career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series start this weekend at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, driving the No. 4 Kevin Harvick Inc. entry that has been piloted by rookie Ricky Carmichael this season.

Newman won in his initial attempt driving this entry in the Truck series at Atlanta Motor Speedway last October. Carmichael is scheduled to return to the truck June 5 at Texas Motor Speedway.

John Monsam has joined the team as crew chief for the No. 4. He’ll work alongside KHI Nationwide Series crew chief Ernie Cope this weekend before taking over the role full time at Dover on May 29.

Newman, a regular in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with Stewart-Haas Racing, is looking forward to driving in the series once more.

“Winning the race last year in Atlanta in my first and only Truck start was pretty cool,” he said. “In my opinion, winning my first race doesn’t put any additional pressure on me as the driver, and it doesn’t give me any preconceived notions about what’s going to happen this week in Charlotte. There is definitely some tough competition in the Truck series. Throw in the fact that we are racing at Charlotte, and I think the competition just got tougher.

- Scene Daily