Loudon, N.H. – Ryan Newman stole a race Tony Stewart thought was his.
Newman, who barely squeezed into the 10-man Chase for the championship, got off to a fast start in NASCAR’s 10-race playoff Sunday by outdueling points leader Stewart down the stretch to win the Sylvania 300.
Stewart, who started from the pole, dominated through much of the race, leading 173 of the 300 laps at New Hampshire International Speedway. But Newman won a late battle with Stewart, passing him on lap 199 and holding the top spot by 2 car-lengths.
“Tony wasn’t happy with the balance of his car at the end,” said Newman, who led 66 laps. “His car was going away at the right time for me. It was going away faster than mine. But that’s the best racing I’ve seen at this track.”
Following the final pit stops by the leaders, Newman found himself just ahead of Stewart when the green flag waved with 16 laps to go after the last of 10 caution flags.
The streaking Stewart, on the way to his 13th consecutive finish of eighth or better, was relentless in trying to retake the lead, pulling up to the rear quarterpanel of Newman’s Penske Racing South Dodge time after time before finally slipping below him on the backstretch on lap 292.
But Newman, whose last win came a year ago in Dover, wouldn’t give up.
He stayed with Stewart, got beneath the Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet on lap 299 and pulled ahead, staying out front to win by 0.292 of a second.
Chase contenders Matt Kenseth and Greg Biffle finished third and fourth, followed by Dale Earnhardt Jr., who is out of the Chase but running his first race with Tony Eury Jr. back as his crew chief.
“Tony and I are a good combination,” said fan favorite Earnhardt, who has struggled through a disappointing season. “And we’re going to try to work toward next year. These next nine races are real important and we’re going to try to build on that.”
Newman was ecstatic after his first win in 35 races, finally breaking through for a win after season-long struggles – and doing it in the biggest race so far this season.
“That was a long time without a Cup win,” said Newman, who drove part-time in the Busch Series this season and got a big boost by winning three straight races at one point.
Nextel Cup/glance
Keys to victory: After the final pit stops by the leaders, Ryan Newman found himself just ahead of Tony Stewart when the green flag waved with 16 laps to go after the last of 10 caution flags. Stewart was relentless and took the lead on the backstretch on lap 292. But Newman wouldn’t give up. He stayed with Stewart, and on lap 299 he pulled ahead and stayed out front to win.
What you might have missed: A second-lap crash cost defending NASCAR Nextel Cup champion Kurt Busch dearly, relegating him to a 35th-place finish and last place in the Chase for the championship.
Back on track: Sunday, UAW-Ford 500, Talladega Superspeedway, KUSA-9/11:30 a.m.
