6B SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY MAY 7, 2009
NASCAR
THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2009
Stewart-Haas racing starts out strong
BY HANK KURZ JR.
Associated Press
Ryan Newman joined Tony Stewart in his new racing venture last season motivated by his desire to have fun again and contend for a championship.
So far, he's achieved the first goal and is getting closer to the second.
"Everybody has done their part to battle through the things that we didn't get right the first part of the season," Newman said in an interview this week. "And now that we've got those things going better for us, I wouldn't say it's turned around; it just gotten better."
Stewart, a two-time Sprint Cup champion, is getting most of the attention for the success he and his team are having in his first year as an owner-driver in NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series.
Newman, meanwhile, has flown under the radar despite getting some much-needed results on the track and showing that the owner's faith in him was warranted.
Stewart is third in the points after 10 events, and Newman is 10th, surging after a slow start to climb 23 spots in seven weeks.
While Stewart said he "backed into one" with his second-place finish Saturday night at Richmond International Raceway. Newman ran up front all night and came home with a season-best fourth.
It was his second consecutive top-five finish — the first time he's done that since late in the 2007 season — and made it seem possible that it could be sooner rather than later that he gets to wheel his Stewart-Haas Chevrolet onto the area of black and white known as Victory Lane.
Perhaps even more telling for Newman is that he was somewhat bummed with the finish. After all, he led four times for 45 laps and felt like he had a shot until a laterace mishap occurred when a he got caught up in a jumble during a restart with 87 laps to go and nudged Mark Martin.
"We didn't get out front when we
needed to," he said. "... At the same time, it's been a long time since I got two top-fives in a row, so you've got to look at the positive side of the coin too."
It's a positive side that some weren't sure Newman would provide.
Newman's career has slowed significantly since 2003, when he led the series with eight victories and 11 poles. He won just four times since, and his victory over Stewart in last season's season-opening Daytona 500 was his first in three seasons. He's not won since, or even come close.
But he prefers looking ahead.
"It's definitely been a while," he said, "but I know why I didn't succeed and win races towards the end of last season, but I'm happy where I'm at, building what I feel is a winning team for 2009.
"If we keep doing what we're doing, we'll get what we want."
That, clearly is that trip to Victory Lane, and he said one of the benefits of working for Stewart is that the entire organization in striving for the same thing, and there's not
even a gentlemen's bet between the drivers about which one will get to sip the champagne first.
"There's no sense in that," Newman said of an inside competition. "We've been so busy doing our thing we don't think of it as that. Really, just the biggest thing is getting to Victory Lane for all these people at Stewart-Haas and I guess to kind of make that statement."
Stewart has said he will only wear his owner's hat during the week, and that on weekends he's strictly a driver. But that owner role was very noticeable on Saturday night when he surveyed his team's strong runs.
"I can't wait to get to the shop on Monday and see the smiles on their faces," he said of the members of both drivers' teams. "This is a process that we continue to grow and build."
In the interim, there's one of 12 spots in the Chase for the championship to focus on securing, and maybe a few races to win.
Driver Ryan Newman walks down pit road with teammates before qualifying at Texas Motor Speedway. Newman joined Tony Stewart in his new racing venture last season because he wanted to have fun again and contend for a championship.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
NASCAR
Hendrick's Martin intends to run full Sprint schedule in 2010
ASSOCIATED PRESS
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Mark Martin will drive a full Sprint Cup
schedule for Hendrick Motorsports in 2010.
The 50-year-old Martin signed a two-year contract with Hendrick last summer, but the second year
originally was to be a partial schedule. It will be Martin's 22nd full season at NASCAR's top level.
He will keep his seat in the No.
5 Chevrolet. Martin drove that car to a win at Phoenix last month that made him the third oldest NASCAR winner in history.
Martin's decision likely will
impact Brad Keselowski's future with the team. Keselowski, who has a developmental deal with Hendrick, wants to race a full Cup schedule in 2010, but Hendrick
does not have an open seat available.
In his fifth career start, Keselowski got his first Cup win two weeks ago at Talladega.
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You've made it!
Finally the all-nighters and daily treks up the Hill have paid off. As you prepare for Commencement, use the "Grad Guide" at www.kualumni.org/classof2009 for information about our graduation events, how to stay connected and life after KU.
Our graduation gift to you
This year the KU Alumni Association has joined with the KU Endowment Association to give you a special graduation gift; a one-year, free membership in the KU Alumni Association! You'll receive the Kansas Alumni magazine, a 2009 KU campus calendar, access to the online directory, special discounts and more.
In addition to your one-year membership, you're eligible for the new grad yearly dues rate of $25 for the next four years. If you're interested in becoming a Life Member, take advantage of our limited-time offer to purchase a life membership for half price at $500 before June 30, 2009.
For more details about Commencement, visit www.commencement.ku.edu.
Everything we do strengthens KU. Since 1883, the KU Alumni Association has kept 'Hawks connected to KU!
Don't miss these great graduation events!
GRAD GRILL
5:30-7:30 p.m.
Thursday, May 7
Adams Alumni Center
Join us and your fellow grads for your first official alumni event at the Adams Alumni Center sponsored by the Student Alumni Association. Don't miss out on great door prizes, free food and drinks. This is your chance to pick up information about alumni activities and services Campus offices will be on hand to share information about their services to you...a proud KU graduate!
COMMENCEMENT LUNCH 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 17
The Outlook, Chancellor's Residence
Before you walk down the Hill, celebrate at the Chancellor's residence. Robert and Leah Hemenway will provide free box lunches for graduates and their guests. The KU Alumni Association will welcome you into alumni status,and the Senior Class officers will announce the class gift and banner.
To attend, send in your registration card and pick up your tickets on the third floor of the Adams Alumni Center between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays, May 1-16.
Questions? Call the Alumni Association at 864-4760, e-mail kualumni@kualumni.org or visit www.kualumni.org.
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