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Monday, February 18, 2008 Newman Claims '500' Glory; Doors Open for More Winners in 2008?Posted by Michael Jones at 12:08:14 AM
Sports fans in South Bend, IN now have another accomplishment to hang their heads high about; and for once, it's something in the record books other than Irish Football. Ryan Newman was on the receiving end of a late-push from Penske teammate Kurt Busch on the final lap of Sunday's 50th Anniversary Daytona 500 at the Daytona International Speedway, propelling the South Bend native to his first career victory in the world's most famed stockcar event.
"Kurt was the push from heaven that made it all happen," Newman said. "Without a doubt, he could have easily gone three-wide and split us through the center and made one heck of a mess there. But he chose to be a teammate, and that was the most honorable thing that he could do."
And honorable it was. To state that Busch had struggled all week at Daytona would be an understatement, and Sunday was no different, until the very end when it counted.
Busch had been involved in an accident earlier in Speedweeks in a Sprint Cup practice session, forcing him to retreat to his back-up car and start 43rd for the race. He was also forced to move his way through the field not once, but twice throughout the duration of the 200-lap event, and to push his teammate past the quick Joe Gibbs Racing duo on the final lap of the sport's biggest race, is definitely a credit to his somewhat 'lacking' reputation among NASCAR fans across the country.
Newman's first place finish on the day does not only mark the first Daytona 500 trophy on his resume and end his 81-race winless drought, but it also gives legendary car owner Roger Penske his first win in the 'Great American Race'. Penske, who could easily be named one of the 'Kings of Indianapolis' throughout the years, has now placed his grasps firmly on the greatest possible victory in stockcar racing.
Busch, ended up second as the checkers flew on the rear-bumper of Newman in his No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge. Sprint Cup veteran Tony Stewart wound up crossing the stripe third after an up-and-down day in his No. 20 Home Depot Toyota, while Kurt's brother and Tony's Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Kyle Busch, who led the majority of the race's 200 circuits and appeared to have the car-to-beat all race long, finished his day up fourth in the No. 18 M&M's Toyota. And finally, young hotshoe Reed Sorenson was one of many to be near the front of the pack when he needed to be in the closing stages of the event, rounded out the Top 5 in his No. 41 Target Dodge.
Next week, the drivers of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series head to Fontana, CA to California Speedway where they will battle out west for the first time in the newly designed chassis/car configuration at the 2-mile d-shaped oval.
And perhaps Sunday's victory for Newman and Penske opens up the door and provides a little bit more hope for other teams and drivers to claim checkered flags throughout the 2008 Sprint Cup campaign. Up until Sunday, it appeared like the Daytona 500 would be ruled yet again by Chevrolet or even the quickly rising Toyota Camry. However, that was not the case as six of the top eight finishers in the '500' were Dodge machines.
NASCAR's intentions when the idea for the COT (Car of Tomorrow) was originally put into place were to beef up safety as well as create a more even playing field among drivers in the series. And, if Sunday's Daytona 500 was any indication, the field has officially been 'evened' as many drivers were able to make their way to the front of the field if their car/setup allowed them to do so.
Yes, Daytona is a super speedway, which means drafting has a big impact on the way a driver can make his way through the field. But, it appears as if the COT will indeed satisfy NASCAR Officials with a more even playing field, and perhaps more exciting racing through the length of the 2008 season. And, being a fan of the greatest sport on earth, it's an idea you really have to be excited for.
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All Times are CDT Tuesday, Sep 9th[06:00 pm] "Wide Open" on Hot Talk 1510 KCTE [07:00 pm] I-35 Speedway Show on RacinBoys.com [07:40 pm] KCIR Show--Preview of Midwest Ford FanFest Friday, Sep 12th[03:00 pm] Scott and Kirk join Kevin Kietzman on Sports Radio 810 WHB Saturday, Sep 13th[07:00 am] "Track Talk" presented by Kenny's Tile on Sports Radio 810 WHB
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