NEWMAN FINISHES STRONG; POSTS 7TH-PLACE RESULT IN SEASON FINALE

Topics:  Ryan Newman, Ford 400

U.S. Army Racing
November 21, 2010

HOMESTEAD, Fla. (Nov. 21, 2010) -- Ryan Newman ended the 2010 NASCAR season with a seventh-place finish in Sunday's Sprint Cup race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

It was the second straight top-10 result for Newman, who finished second last week in Phoenix. It was also his 14th top-10 of the season, eight of which came in the last 13 races.

"We've had a lot better finishes at the end of this season than we did at the end of last season," said Newman. "We have something to build on for next year and that's a big positive. I am both happy and proud about how we fought back this year -- we had the never-quit-attitude of our Army Strong Soldiers."

Newman started the final race of the year from the 23rd position. He patiently picked his way through the field and was running in the top-10 by Lap 101 of 267. He basically stayed in the top-10 for the remainder of the race. He appeared to have a top-five result locked up but an untimely caution after pitting late in the race cost him a couple of positions.

"I really feel we had a top-five or better U.S. Army Chevrolet today," said team crew chief Tony Gibson. "We had some bad luck there when the yellow came out after our last stop. But the good news is that we're clicking and I wish the new season was starting tomorrow. Ryan has done a great job and our pit crew has been awesome. We're ready to roll and to make our Soldiers proud of us. They (Soldiers) are our inspiration and it's such an honor to wear that Army logo on our chest."

Newman, who became a first-time father when his wife Krissie gave birth Friday (Nov. 19) to a baby girl -- Brooklyn Sage, said he was looking forward to getting home to his newly-expanded family.

"I'm going home to my two women and five dogs and see how much fun we can have during the offseason," said Newman with a smile. "It's a special time in the Newman household."

Newman's teammate, Tony Stewart, finished eighth, giving the SHR duo another top-10 team performance.

In the final driver standings, Newman finished 15th while Stewart was seventh. Jimmie Johnson captured the season Sprint Cup title -- his fifth straight championship. Denny Hamlin was second -- 39 points behind and Kevin Harvick was third -- 41 points behind.

The race winner was Carl Edwards -- his second straight. Rounding out the top-five in order were: Johnson, Harvick, Aric Almirola and AJ Allmendinger.

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