Ryan Newman Leads Penske Daytona Sweep

He wasn't on my picks, and more than likely he wasn't at the top yours.

But that didn't matter to Ryan Newman Sunday evening at Daytona International Speedway. Newman won his first-career Daytona 500 in thrilling fashion, his first win since 2005 in the Sprint Cup Series.

At the white flag, Newman didn't lead but Tony Stewart did with his teammate Kyle Busch coming fast. Off of Turn 2, the outside line that Ryan Newman was leading was gaining on Stewart with teammate Kurt Busch planted squarely in the rear end of Newman's Dodge.

Stewart ducked low thinking that he would head off a a charge by Kyle Busch and that he could use a push to keep the lead, but it backfired, and the Penske freight train powered past with Kurt shoving Newman to the lead.

Stewart later called it one of the most disappointing things to ever happen to him in his racing career as he was once again denied in a bid to win the Daytona 500.

The race ended with 7 cautions and all but 6 of those occurred after the halfway mark.

Amazingly, the highest finishing Hendrick Motorsports team -- all four cars were pre-race favorites -- was in ninth-place by Dale Earnhardt Jr.

NASCAR FanHouse will have plenty more coverage of the Daytona 500 coming to a screen near you.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

2-18-2008 @ 2:17AM

jonnathan said...

congrats ryan you deserved this win after the tough couple years of bad luck you had.im a fan by the way awesome baby daytona 50th wow

2-18-2008 @ 8:41AM

Jim said...

DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! I love the guys that drive for the company thant signs my paycheck every week!
Now let's just hope that everyone taritor against our country that drives a Toyoya has major problems EVERY weeend!

2-18-2008 @ 7:48AM

connie said...

Congradulations Ryan. I have been pulling for you since the first day you started the NASCAR Series. You have proven to be a good driver but have been let down by the bad car problems you have had the past year. I hope all the kinks have been removed this year and you will be the big winner of the YEAR.
Once again, congradulations.
Connie from North Carolina

2-18-2008 @ 7:59AM

Dale Dodge Jr said...

Great job Ryan! Continue the streak! Dodge is back! To see latest Dodge, Dale Dodge Jr visit website

http://www.freewebs.com/dadracing

2-18-2008 @ 8:22AM

Boogie said...

Way to go Ryan! Mama gets a new pair of shoes. You are the Best!

2-18-2008 @ 8:53AM

Rusty@therustygourmet.com said...

Newman! Congratulations to you and your team. Let's just say you wanted to make a comeback 'in style'! The 50th Daytona was the way to do it.

2-18-2008 @ 10:56AM

Jen said...

I just wanna say that I have been a Ryan Newman fan since his rookie year. I am so happy that he had a victory in the Great American Race!!! Congrats to Ryan on winning the Daytona 500, hopefully this is the beginning of his Championship Season!!!! Can't wait to see what is in store for him this year!