Catchfence

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. (Oct. 11, 2011) – Ryan Newman has always started really well in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway.

But he’s never scored a victory in a points-paying race at the 1.5-mile oval and would love nothing more than to change that in Saturday night’s Bank of America 500.

Not that his finishes have been bad, by any means. Twice (October 2003 and May 2009), the driver of the No. 39 Cookies for Kids’ Cancer/Gene Haas Foundation Chevrolet Impala for Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) has finished in the runner-up spot, and he has seven top-10 finishes in 21 career starts at Charlotte. He even won the non-points Sprint All-Star race in May 2002 and he finished in the top-10 in all five of his Nationwide Series races at the 1.5-mile oval, including a victory in the May 2005 event. He also started on the pole and won a 100-mile ARCA race in October 2000 at Charlotte.

And, every driver and team in the garage area knows that when it’s time to qualify, Newman is the biggest obstacle they will have to overcome. He’s won nine poles at Charlotte, the most of any active driver and second only to the legendary David Pearson, who claimed the top spot 14 times. Newman has been so good at Charlotte that he’s qualified fourth or better in 13 of 19 qualifying sessions he’s been a part of. (Qualifying was rained out in October 2002 and October 2008.) Only twice has he qualified outside the top-15.

A win at Charlotte would also kick back into gear Newman’s efforts in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. The No. 39 team hasn’t enjoyed the results it has been looking for through the first four Chase races and sits 11th in the standings, 54 markers behind championship leader Carl Edwards.

Victory would also be huge for Cookies for Kids’ Cancer, which will be featured on Newman’s No. 39 Chevrolet for the Bank of America 500. The Gene Haas Foundation, formed in 1999 by SHR co-owner Gene Haas, is donating $25,000 to Cookies for Kids’ Cancer which, through the concept of local bake sales and online cookie sales, inspires individuals, organizations, and businesses to join in the fight against pediatric cancer by raising the funds and awareness necessary to help change the effects of pediatric cancer and provide more families with the hope they deserve.

Cookies for Kids’ Cancer was founded in 2008 by Gretchen and Larry Witt, who were inspired to do so by their son, Liam, who was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer in 2007 while just 2 years old. After successfully hosting a 96,000-cookie bake sale that raised more than $400,000 for cancer research during December 2007, Cookies for Kids’ Cancer was formed. Tragically, Liam came to the end of his courageous four-year fight with cancer in January 2011 at the age of 6 and, though devastated by his loss, the Witts remain more determined than ever to continue the fight against pediatric cancer.

As they look ahead to Saturday night, think just how “sweet” it would be to see Cookies for Kids’ Cancer celebrating in Charlotte Motor Speedway’s victory lane as part of Newman and Company’s relentless efforts to win the Bank of America 500.

RYAN NEWMAN, Driver of the No. 39 Cookies for Kids’ Cancer/Gene Haas Foundation Chevrolet for Stewart-Haas Racing:

What are your overall thoughts heading into Charlotte?

“I think that the racing is really good there. The track, as far as running up against the fence, running down on the bottom, both ends of the racetrack, are really racy. I think it’s racier than it has ever been in my career, when it was the original surface, and then it was ‘levigated,’ and then it was repaved. I think it is the best now that it has ever been. The cars are so similar and the speeds are so fast that it’s still a difficult place to pass. It’s really a fun racetrack once you get your car right there. The track is so different end to end that it does take a specific balance to get the car balanced out end to end. It’s fun, especially on qualifying days, for me.”

How does Charlotte change from day to night?

“Night racing there is always cooler and not just temperature-wise. It’s cooler because you can see the sparks flying and the lights make the cars look faster. Hopefully, we can put on a good show for everybody. I’ve always liked racing there, but we haven’t won there since the All-Star race, so we’d like to get a win again, obviously.”

Does your mindset heading into a weekend change week to week or does it remain the same?

“If I was last in points or if I was first in points, it would be the same. And that is to do my best to go out there and win the race. If you have a car that is not capable of winning the race, then you try to turn a 15th into a 10th or a 10th into a fifth by using strategy. You do whatever you possibly can to get that victory. I don’t have a different approach. Maybe I should – I wouldn’t be 11th in points right now, but I don’t think there has been a problem.”

Talk about Cookies for Kids’ Cancer being on the 39 car this weekend?

“It’s neat for us to have them on board and, hopefully, we can get them some good exposure. The best way to do that is by running up front and winning. Gene (Haas) has an incredible foundation and he’s partnered with Cookies for Kids’ Cancer which, from what I’ve read and seen, is an incredible organization. What the Witts have done is amazing and, hopefully, we can bring a lot of attention to Cookies for Kids’ Cancer this week at Charlotte.”

RYAN NEWMAN’S CHARLOTTE SPRINT CUP SERIES PERFORMANCE PROFILE

Year	Date	Event	Start	Finish	Status/Laps	Laps Led	Earnings
2011	5/29	×Coca-Cola 600	12	31	Running, 358/402	0	$127,750
2010	5/30	Coca-Cola 600	1	9	Running, 400/400	11	$196,454
	10/16	Bank of America 500	11	36	Running, 272/334	0	$101,079
2009	5/25	*Coca-Cola 600	1	2	Running, 227/227	2	$326,754
	10/17	NASCAR Banking 500	6	11	Running, 334/334	0	$113,304
2008	5/25	Coca-Cola 600	38	21	Running, 399/400	1	$133,375
	10/11	†Bank of America 500	16	21	Running, 333/334	10	$109,350
2007	5/27	Coca-Cola 600	1	39	Engine, 172/400	10	$156,100
	10/13	×Bank of America 500	1	28	Accident, 333/337	11	$122,775
2006	5/28	Coca-Cola 600	18	35	Running, 369/400	0	$127,808
	10/14	Bank of America 500	15	27	Running, 272/334	0	$107,658
2005	5/29	Coca-Cola 600	1	5	Running, 400/400	43	$238,191
	10/15	×UAW-GM Quality 500	2	7	Running, 336/336	42	$145,641
2004	5/30	Coca-Cola 600	2	35	Engine, 390/400	0	$120,417
	10/10	UAW-GM Quality 500	1	14	Running, 334/334	31	$136,117
2003	5/25	*Coca-Cola 600	1	5	Running, 276/276	50	$186,850
	10/11	UAW-GM Quality 500	1	2	Running, 334/334	46	$164,425
2002	5/26	Coca-Cola 600	4	41	Engine, 100/400	0	$66,115
	10/13	†UAW-GM Quality 500	4	8	Running, 334/334	0	$80,800
2001	5/27	Coca-Cola 600	1	43	Accident, 11/400	10	$90,864
	10/7	UAW-GM Quality 500	4	19	Running, 332/334	0	$38,375

× Race length extended due to green-white-checkered finish.

* Race cut short due to weather.

† Qualifying canceled due to weather, starting position set via car owner points.  

- True Speed Communication for Stewart-Haas Racing/Haas Automation, Press Release