Countdown to Daytona: Owner Point Style No. 29 (Ryan Newman)

Today wraps up my first week of previewing the top 35 in owner’s points for 2009 and features last year’s Daytona 500 winner, Ryan Newman.

While this team isn’t new, everything about it is.

A new number: check; new driver: check; new sponsor: check; new owner: check.

Tony Stewart made the move back to Chevrolet in dramatic fashion when he bought into Haas CNC Racing, now named Stewart-Haas Racing.

Newman comes over to Chevrolet for the first time in his career, having driven Dodges at Penske Racing previously.

This is a team that is fielded using Hendrick cars and engines and has the potential to run like the other Hendrick cars.

Anyway, here is today’s preview:

Today’s Spotlight: No. 39

Team: Stewart-Haas Racing

Driver: Ryan Newman

Sponsor: US Army (22 races)—for a look at paint schemes visit Jayski.com

Driver 2008 Stats: Newman finished 2008 with one win, eight top-10 finishes and two top-fives en route to a 17th place finish in the driver points. He earned $6.2 million, led 83 laps and averaged a finish of 19th.

News: Newman visited victory lane once during 2008, but it was in the Grand-Daddy of em’ all—the Daytona 500. From there, things went downhill, including his relationship with team owner Roger Penske.

When close friend Tony Stewart announced that he would be buying into Haas-CNC Racing, Newman wasted no time jumping on board.

In 2009, Newman hits the track with a new team, new car, new boss, and new sponsor.

The team has signed U.S. Army to a 22-race deal for sponsorship, but as of right now, is still looking for primary sponsors for the additional 14 races.

My Prediction for 2009:  This team should fare really well in 2009. The cars are basically Hendrick Motorsports, and Newman is a good driver.

Competing for the Chase may be a bit of a stretch for this team, but I would not be surprised to see them in the top-15 in points at the end of the year.

Newman is an excellent qualifier and tends to put his car up front, his problem has been keeping it there in recent years, but that was in a Dodge.

It’ll be interesting to see how he does with a new team and in better equipment than he’s ever been before.

Will this team remain in top-35: No doubt about it, this team will have no problem staying in the top 35.

Up Tomorrow: No. 55 Michael Waltrip

This story also appears on my blog: Sports 101

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