Ryan Newman has an agreement to revisit his latest contract offer with team owner Roger Penske after an undisclosed deadline, but said he will not return to his current NASCAR Sprint Cup team unless his No. 12 Dodge program shows significant improvement soon.
Newman’s season has been mostly a disappointment after he opened with a victory in the 50th Daytona 500. He’s 17th in points with five top-10s but four finishes of 30th or worse, two because of engine failures.
“It’s a performance issue,” Newman, 30, said at a pre-Coke Zero 400 media event at Kennedy
Space Center on Tuesday. “There’s no excuse. The other guys aren’t doing it. We shouldn’t either. We strive to be the best at everything, and we’re failing at that.”
Newman’s latest engine disaster led to a 42nd-place finish last week at Michigan. That second incident, he said, will impact his decision on whether to return to the team that gave him his start in NASCAR in 2000.
“Heck yeah,” said Newman, who has won 13 Cup races, eight in 2003 when he finished his career-best of sixth in for the second of three times. “Without a doubt. My goal is to be the best driver I can be and get the best results, wherever that is, whether it’s Penske Racing or any other place. I have to be fair to myself and my long-term goals and everything else, and Roger knows that. We’ve talked about that. It’s no secret. Sunday was obviously a step in a bad direction when it came to that.”
- BRANT JAMES
Follow the action around the track with Times sportswriter Brant James and the staff of the St. Petersburg Times.
I wonder how Ryan did driving the Crawler over at the Cape today.
If you have pictures Brant, please poste them. He said today on The Morning Drive that he would try to ignore aero push.
Posted by: Shirley J. Buttacavoli | June 17, 2008 at 06:23 PM
you can see pictures at www.captainthunderracing.com
Posted by: John | June 18, 2008 at 08:54 AM
Newman better stay where he's at, pensky is used to cry babys, he put up with rusty for a long time.
Posted by: Don | June 18, 2008 at 03:33 PM
I don't think Newman is a crybaby. He expects a little better performance than what he is getting. I remember a few other drivers last season & this season also complaining (crying) about the same thing.
Posted by: Graceann | June 23, 2008 at 08:54 AM
Newman needs to get out of dodge... they did great in fords .... rookie of the year and driver of the year titles anything even toyota.... dodge just sucks, all dodge teams are having problems and performing.... newman is a great driver and could do lots, but you can't do much with blown engines and ruined drivetrains...
Posted by: Robert | July 09, 2008 at 01:37 PM