Newman: Team performance must improve or he will not return to Penske

    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

Comments

[Shirley J. Buttacavoli]

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.

[John]

you can see pictures at www.captainthunderracing.com

[Don]

Newman better stay where he's at, pensky is used to cry babys, he put up with rusty for a long time.

[Graceann]

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.

[Robert]

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...