Ryan goodies

Need for speed key for Ryan Newman at Talladega

With seven races left on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule, Ryan Newman realizes he still has a job to do as the driver of the No. 12 Penske Racing Dodge.

Since the announcement in July that Newman will team up with two-time NASCAR Cup champion Tony Stewart at Stewart-Haas Racing in 2009, this year’s Daytona 500 champion has been doing his best to juggle his current responsibilities, while also focusing on the future.

“I’m definitely excited about next year,” said Newman before heading into Sunday’s AMP Energy 500 at Talladega Superspeedway.

“I’m just trying to balance both situations and both scenarios so I can be successful at both.”

Although Newman has never won at Talladega in 13 career starts, he has recorded three top-five and six top-10 finishes and has only three DNFs. Newman’s best finish at the 2.66-mile facility was fourth in the fall race in 2003 and then again in 2005.

“I definitely like Talladega – especially when you have a fast race car,” explained Newman.

“We’ve had a good restrictor plate race car all year. I got caught up in a wreck in the second Daytona race, and we won the [Daytona] 500.”

Like other drivers preparing to tackle Talladega, Newman understands that anything can happen when speeds reach close to 200 mph in bumper to bumper traffic.

No matter whether if it’s the first lap or the last, at Talladega, a wreck known as the Big One can occur and ruin a driver’s day instantly.

“Expect the unexpected,” said Newman in reference to racing at Talladega. “If it [big crash] doesn’t happen, then you made it out of there.”

Newman also explained that at Talladega the need for speed is the most critical component when it comes to restrictor-plate racing.

Without a fast race car, make that a really fast race car, a driver can’t get to the front and will have to do his best bunched up in traffic and dirty air swirling around his machine for 188 laps.

“You have to have a fast race car,” said Newman. “It’s track where handling is at a minimum. You just do your thing ,and hopefully you can walk out of there with fenders on the race car – if so - you’ve had a good day.”

Being successful at Talladega not only tests each driver’s mettle in terms of keeping the accelerator mashed to the floorboard, it also requires precision and patience.

“Patience is the biggest thing,” he said. “The ability to stay calm and not overreact – you have to be totally predictable of what might happen, and that’s so questionable.”

Another aspect about Talladega that cannot be ignored is knowing when to make the move to gain position on the track without causing a multicar pileup.

“The second biggest thing is that so many cars are so close and so equal – you almost have to wait your turn if you’re not in that group that’s running in the top five,” said Newman.

“Trying to predict that future [at Talladega] is extremely difficult, but it can be done.”

You added Kevin to the Signature!!! Whoooo!

I think Ryan will do awesome this weekend. Like he said, his restrictor plate cars have been great

Yea man, you gotta kiss the Kev for luck too!

Boy I sure hope so. Heck, I'm ecstatic over a top-10 finish nowadays!

"Kiss the Kev" - Love it!

Im excited with a top 10 too though!!

Yep, Clint's gotta get those points back! And remind him not to make any illegal passes 'cause he needs to get that Cup!

Oh no worries, we sorted out those issues Sunday night

Good girl.

Come on, Clint! You know, if he does super-well, he might get way back up there. But, that would also mean that Carl, Greg and Jimmie would have to falter, along with the others in the top 5.

--I never pray for a wreck...but they can all goof a little, except maybe Biff

I don't either, but what I do is hope that the pit team will mess up somehow.

Yeah, thats a good way to get it done without injuries.....the crew's feelings might get hurt though....some drivers can be bastards to the crew haha

Drivers AND cc's. I feel for the team - they're doing their best, just like everyone else. Screwups will happen (hopefully more to certain teams, though).

good luck to ryan on sunday

Thanks, Drina! I guess we should all say good luck for your driver not getting involved in any wrecks.

OMG, I just had a KICKASS experience on another forum!

I'm on the Official Halloween Message Board, and this person started writing to me, and he seems nice (not like that...just talking horor movies and such - he's married too). He goes, "Since you're into Nascar, I have to ask you who your fave driver is. If I had to choose one, I guess it would be Ryan Newman." I freaked out when I responded!!! Well, HELL, if that isn't a bitchin' coincidence.

thats cool!!!!

Ryan cut open his forehead?!?!? Well, Nurse Jeanine took good care of him and made sure that the helmet won't interfere.

Damn, Ron just had HIS stitches taken out - weird.

Ryan looked kinda tired today.

That is so awesome!

OMG Jeanine, did you hear about Ryan getting stitches this weekend?!?!!?

"I fought the lawnmower and the lawnmower won"

He's okay though, so that is good! Man I almost cried thinking of you seeing that!!

aww, poor ryan .............12, you take good care of him

It was the lawnmower - OK, that was the only word I missed. All I heard was "cut my forehead open" and "stitches".

Nothing brings muh baby down! Come on, lawnmower - I fuck you up!!!

LuvMyRyan12 wrote:

Come on, lawnmower - I fuck you up!!!

Now THAT'S what we will do for our men!!!

You better believe it! And all the neighbors will be

Hahahaha
Picture this:

Jeanine out in the backyard, grunting and swearing at the lawnmower...

Then I'll burn it in a ritual sacrifice, then bury the ashes so it's never seen again.

So long, lawnmower!

Next frame:

Jeanine standing over the burning pile, a dominant smile across her face

Lawnmower Inferno, the long-awaited sequel to "Lawnmower Man".

Damnit, why doesn't Krissie mow the damn lawn, lazy bitch. See what happened?!? NOTE TO KRISSIE - us Ryan fans are RABID, and we DON'T LIKE our guy getting hurt!!!