Newman's Engine a Phoenix Red Flag

Ryan Newman went from first the last Saturday night in a cloud of smoke both from under his hood and from the carnage caused behind him.

Newman, who had led 30 laps, blew a front seal on his Dodge motor on lap 133 during theSubway Fresh Fit 500, ruining his night and several others. Watch as the red flag comes out at 0:06:



As you can see, Newman lost his engine heading into turn three, and behind him several drivers lost control. The list included point leader Jeff Burton, Reed Sorenson, Matt Kenseth, Johnny Sauter and J.J. Yeley.

Now, I'll admit, I was one of the fans yelling at his TV because Newman failed to get off the track after obviously oiling-down the race track.

His quotes, though, after the race helped to settle me down some after Newman fully explained his issue and tried to reason why he caused a full-fledged race-stopping oil cleanup.

Instead of blowing his motor in a traditional fashion, the engine continued to run after the front seal blew out. As the motor ran, though, oil shot out of the opening in the front of the car onto the track causing the wreck behind the No. 12.

You've got to remember, too, that the Sprint Cup cars run oil tanks measured in gallons, not quarts, so there was plenty to pull out.

Newman initially thought it was a power steering problem, so he remained on the track.

Still though, Newman's spotter had to draw the connection like the rest of the world after he blew up and cars behind him spun out that there was a least some fluid flowing from the Penske Dodge. Newman himself could have diagnosed that fluid was draining on the track as the video shows him nearly spinning out in turn one while slowing down.

I would hope that NASCAR talked to Newman after the race to prevent from having to put out a lengthy red flag period for fluid again in the Sprint Cup series.

In drag racing, you're allotted a certain number of track oil-downs before points count against you. Is it time to consider that in NASCAR?