Chat Transcript: Ryan Newman
August 30, 2001
2:32 PM EDT (1832 GMT)
[Nascar_Host1] Welcome to NASCAR.com's chat with Ryan Newman!
[Ryan_Newman] Hello race fans! Thanks for signing on to my chat tonight on NASCAR.com. This is my first online chat and I am looking forward to it!
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [Dale's Gurl 8] How did it feel to get that first win? (It was awesome!)
[Ryan_Newman] It was really great to be able to do it at a previously owned Penske race track close to home, especially with it being only my 9th Busch start. We worked hard on it and it was great to do it at a prestigious place like Michigan.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [DFrazier9] How does it feel to be with such a powerful team like Penske at the start of your NASCAR career?
[Ryan_Newman] It is really great to have the opportunity to be with legendary people like Roger Penske and Rusty Wallace. I have waited for the right opportunity to make my stock car connection and it is a blessing for me to be part of Penske Racing and be in the position I am in now.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [joni02] Hi Ryan. Are you going to be running in any more Winston Cup races this year? If so, which ones? Thanks, and good luck at Darlington.
[Ryan_Newman] Thank you for the good luck! We have 3 Winston Cup races left for this season. They are Kansas City, Charlotte in October, and Phoenix.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [Dale's Gurl 8] Who was the first person you called after your win?
[Ryan_Newman] I don't remember the first person I called. I got a lot of calls from friends and family from South Bend. When I got home Sunday morning, I had a voice mail from Roger Penske congratulating me, and that was definitely an honor.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [Casey_Tyoe] What are your plans for the 2002 Winston Cup season?
[Ryan_Newman] We are going for "Rookie of the Year." Obviously we think we have the potential to win races with teammates of Rusty Wallace and Jeremy Mayfield. We want to gain more experience and grow with our teammates throughout the year.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [rooting4rusty] How does it feel to be working with Rusty Wallace, who has had great success in the Winston Cup series?
[Ryan_Newman] It is really great to have the chance to work with somebody like Rusty. He gives me a lot of advice at places he has a lot of experience with. When we go to a new track, we exchange a lot of ideas, but when you go to Richmond, Bristol or Charlotte, Rusty has so many laps there that you are dumb if you don't listen to what he has to say. Rusty talks with me about everything he has experienced at those tracks.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [BluegrassRacer] Now that you have achieved your college degree, will you take some of the skills at engineering and put it into either the aero package on your race cars, mechanical, both or neither?
[Ryan_Newman] Really all of the above! It isn't just the engineering background; it is also the communication skills so I can be a better teammate. The two biggest things I learned at college were problem solving and time management, not engineering.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [KTinKS] Ryan, is there anything you take with you while traveling that would surprise your many fans?
[Ryan_Newman] Not really. I take as little as possible when I pack. I do take a go-ped that has a gas powered engine on it. It let's me get around the racetrack so I can look around and see what is going on.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [racer girl] Do you have any pre-race rituals? Do you have any superstitions relating to racing?
[Ryan_Newman] One of the biggest pre-race rituals is to do whatever I can to get the most rest and be focused on what I have to do. I always stretch my body. It helps me a lot on focusing on what I need to do, and if I was in an accident, it would help lessen the injuries.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [#12 Tina] As a newer driver, what is your plan of attack to try to separate your job from your personal life?
[Ryan_Newman] I guess I really don't focus on separating them. My personal life is my job. This is what I chose to do, as far as being a driver. When I focused on what I wanted to do in college, I focused on something I liked, and I don't consider that a job.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [dohman] Ryan, I hear a few drivers play computer racing games. Do you play them and does it help your driving?
[Ryan_Newman] I play them a lot, actually. NASCAR 4 is a great game, and it is super realistic. I can try different lines and experience things within the games. The games deal with physics, and that is what racing really is, so it helps me gain experience with the racetracks.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [TrackScorcher24] Hey Ryan, is ALLTEL going to be your sponsor for next year's season?
[Ryan_Newman] Yes, ALLTEL will be my primary sponsor next season.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [wc2isno1] Congratulations on your Michigan win! Any truth to the rumor that you, Rusty and Jeremy are switching to Dodge next year?
[Ryan_Newman] No truth at all. That is purely rumor and speculation. Thank you for the congratulations!
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [17Tobyracing74] Do you feel that running midgets, sprints, and Silver Crown cars, both on pavement and dirt, has given you any advantage over those that strictly have stock car experience?
[Ryan_Newman] I personally believe there is because the car control experience required in those other cars is definitely different than a late-model or street stock. The car control I think is key to being a better driver.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [cosmo282] CONGRATS RYAN!! As a Purdue fan and a native Hoosier, it is great to see a great driver coming up the ranks. I am having a hard time finding your merchandise. Bristol only had a few things but I want to see more. Where can I find it?
[Ryan_Newman] We are coming out with some more stuff. Hopefully there will be a Ryan Newman trailer soon, or it will be in conjunction with the other drivers. Some of it you can find with Action, and thanks for the support!
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [rustyandryanfan] How would you rate your chances at Darlington this weekend? You did sit on the pole in March.
[Ryan_Newman] I think we have a great opportunity to do well. We are taking the same car back that we won Michigan, and it is now named "Thumper." I really like that track, when other drivers don't, so I am looking forward to a great weekend.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [RustyandRyanfan] What made you decide to go the stock car route since you're from Indiana, which is open-wheel country?
[Ryan_Newman] It is just what I always wanted to do. It is a great form of racing and there is a lot of history and tradition with racing with fenders, and the fan base really appreciates that.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [RustyandRyanfan] Congratulations on your awesome Michigan victory. I was cheering for you. Where did you learn to do that burnout? That was amazing.
[Ryan_Newman] Just thought about it a lot! I didn't really get to practice it. The objective is to just make the most smoke possible, so I guess we did that.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [groovy] What I want to know is, how hard or easy has it been for you to adjust to the media spotlight, since you have done so well in NASCAR?
[Ryan_Newman] It has been different. There are different people and different attitudes, and the hype that goes along with being in NASCAR. I think that I have adapted to it very well, but I have great people behind me in public relations, car owners, and things like that.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [rustymonkey] Which of your teammates, Rusty or Jeremy, does your driving style match better? Who do you get the most help from?
[Ryan_Newman] I think actually both. I get a little more help from Rusty, as far as being teammates in the same building. We can share info a bit easier, but I think equally when it comes to driving style.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [17Tobyracing74] Ryan, who has been the biggest influence on your racing career?
[Ryan_Newman] I think my family, without a doubt. My dad has been a tremendous help in getting me around the tracks and the people. My mom and sister go to as many races as possible and that makes a big difference.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [JGFREAK24] HI RYAN, WHAT IS BEEN THE MOST CHALLENGING ASPECT OF DRIVING A WINSTON CUP RACE?
[Ryan_Newman] Just the amount of laps and changes a driver goes through during a race. Putting on 4 new tires on Rockingham, or just the competition of 42 other drivers.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [TrackScorcher24] What is your biggest contribution to the team besides driving?
[Ryan_Newman] I think my ability to communicate with the crew and the background I have as far as being a driver and being a driver that worked on my own cars for basically 19 years.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [Max20] Ryan, which are you more proud of, your college degree or your first win? Good luck this season!
[Ryan_Newman] I would say equally both. I worked 4 years for my college degree, but to have 19 years of hard work by my family and I and to have that first NASCAR win, that was definitely great.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: 4,15 [RustyandRyanfan] 2,15 I hear you were testing Rusty's car at Talladega. How did that go?
[Ryan_Newman] It went pretty well. We struggled as far as speed goes but we did learn some things and I got to race with the existing rules in the Winston Cup Series. It was a win-win situation for both the Miller Lite team and myself.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [Max20] If you could listen to a CD in your car while driving, what would you listen to?
[Ryan_Newman] Dave Matthews Band. Any album.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [RachfromMN] Ryan, what do you do to relax after a race?
[Ryan_Newman] I enjoy fishing and doing things around the lake, boating and things like that.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [rooster] Do you feel NASCAR needs more short tracks and road courses built to help balance out the schedule?
[Ryan_Newman] I think the schedule has a good balance now, but more tracks like Richmond and Bristol would be great.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [SoccerDude] If you could race one-on-one with any driver who would it be?
[Ryan_Newman] That is a tough question. I guess it would depend on what we were racing and what the stakes were. People like Tony Stewart, who can drive just about anything, would be a good opponent.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [dodge40boy] What kind of physical conditioning do you do to be in shape for a race?
[Ryan_Newman] Like I said earlier, I do a lot of stretching and I try to get relaxed. I do some things here at the shop in terms of working out, but more in the offseason. I just keep the muscles working and do some cardio workouts, but when I get a chance, I like to play racket ball.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [RustyandRyanfan] Do you think you can beat Tony Stewart's rookie records next year?
[Ryan_Newman] I hope so! It is going to be tough. We need to see if Kevin Harvick doesn't do it this year. I think we can do it with the experience we have gained over the past year and a half and with the teammates we have.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [rooster] What are your goals for next year in Winston Cup?
[Ryan_Newman] Definitely a lot of top-5 finishes, and if that comes, I think we can get as many wins as we can. I want to learn in our rookie year as a team, and I think that is something we have excelled at this year I believe.
[Nascar_Host1] That's all the time Ryan has for us this evening. Thanks Ryan! What are your final thoughts?
[Ryan_Newman] The Penske ALLTEL team looks forward to Darlington and hopefully bettering our pole from the Spring. I just want to take the opportunity to take a winner racecar back to the track and have a great weekend. I hope to see you at the racetrack sometime and thanks for your support!
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