Car:
Number 39 Chevrolet
Team:
Stewart- Haas Racing
Sponsor:
U.S. Army
Birthdate:
December 8, 1977
Rookie Season:
Started 1 race in 2000 (Phoenix), and seven more in 2001 (Won pole in Charlotte). Ran first full season in 2002 winning Rookie of the Year honors, The Winston all-star race in May and a points race in New Hampshire in September.
Career Highlights:
2001 - First pole (Charlotte)
2002 - Rookie of the Year
2002 - Won "The Winston"
2002 - First points win (New Hampshire)
2009 - Left Penske for newly formed Stewart-Haas Racing
Young Smart and Fast:
Ryan received his engineering degree from Purdue University in 2001. An impressive feat for most people but consider that Ryan was also pursuing a full-time racing career at the same time. Ryan was the USAC Silver Bullet Champion in 1999, made his Sprint Cup debut in 2000 and ran the "ABC" (Arca, Busch, Cup) program totaling 24 starts and his first career Sprint Cup pole.
Ryan Newman joined the Sprint Cup series full-time as the 2002 NASCAR Sprint Cup Rookie of the Year with one points series win and six poles that season. Ryan also raced his way into "The Winston" all-star race that year and then went on to win it.
Ryan followed that season up with eight wins and eleven poles in 2003.
Clearly a force to be reckoned with in the sport Ryan is young, smart and darn fast! He will be a factor in many Sprint Cup points battles to come.