'08 Rear-View Mirror: Ryan Newman

Warning: Objects in this post may be the only way to successfully live through the NASCAR off-season. For best results, read rearview mirror early and often.

Driver: Ryan Newman
Team: No. 12 Penske Racing Dodge
'08 Final Standing: 18th (-3049)
Best Race: Daytona 500 (1st-place)
Worst Race: Phoenix & Talladega (43rd-place)

Season in a box: Two big things -- winning the Daytona 500 and then leaving the only team he's ever known in NASCAR -- happened to Ryan Newman that he probably didn't expect prior to the start of 2008. However, the win in the season opener and subsequent dismal season was the biggest story for the No. 12.

Newman really came out of nowhere -- there weren't a whole lot of people choosing the Dodge driver to take home the trophy from the 50th running -- to win the Daytona 500. He, along with teammate Kurt Busch, motored around Tony Stewart on the final lap to give team owner Roger Penske his first win in NASCAR's biggest race. It was obviously the highlight of the season, but the success didn't last long.

Soon, Newman found himself slipping through the point standings and out of Chase contention, though most of that slide came later in the '08 season. To wrap up the season, Newman had a best finish of just 13th in his final 12 races with the Penske team.

Through the crystal windshield: Heading to the brand new Stewart-Haas Racing to drive the No. 39 Chevrolet with teammate Tony Stewart in 2009, it's tough to say what 2009 will hold for the native of South Bend, Ind. While the team isn't completely new -- it ran under the moniker of Haas-CNC Racing before Stewart announced his intent to join forces as a co-owner in 2009 -- it has never experienced success on a level that Newman has.

Also, as is the case for too many race teams in '09, Newman lacks full-season support with roughly 13 races left to sell on the fenders of his No. 39. The team plans to run the entire season, though, and over the course of that time, I expect both Newman and teammate Stewart to make a run at a win or two, but battling for a championship seems a little out of the question.

Next up: Jamie McMurray