Ryan Newman, Scott Wimmer swap races in No. 5 JR Motorsports entry
Ryan Newman is making select NASCAR Nationwide Series starts this season for JR Motorsports. // Jim Fluharty, NASCAR Scene
JR Motorsports says drivers Scott Wimmer and Ryan Newman will swap upcoming races in the No. 5 NASCAR Nationwide Series car, with Newman taking the Aug. 21 race at Bristol and Wimmer competing at Kansas on Oct. 3.
The change allows Newman to compete for the “Bristol Grand Slam” – four NASCAR-sanctioned events at the .526-mile oval in the same week. By doing so, Newman would become the first NASCAR driver to accomplish the feat. It starts Aug. 19 with the NASCAR Whelen Modified race, followed by the Camping World Truck Series race the same day, the Nationwide Series race Aug. 21 and the Sprint Cup Series race Aug. 22.
“I’m not sure how this whole deal really came together,” Newman said. “When I was in Bristol earlier this year, we were talking about how I was running the Modified, Truck and Sprint Cup race in August, and someone said it would be really cool if I could find a car and compete in the Nationwide race, too. I thought about it, and was like, ‘Yeah, that would be pretty cool.’ So, a lot of people started working on trying to get a Nationwide ride for me.
“Luckily, Scott Wimmer, [sponsor] Fastenal and JR Motorsports, were willing to trade races so that I could drive the No. 5 car at Bristol, and I really appreciate that. They have given me an incredible opportunity, and I can’t thank them enough. Hopefully, I can get a win for them in the Nationwide race ... at Bristol as a way to thank them.”
Newman has raced for JR Motorsports once this year, at Dover, and is slated for three more events. Wimmer has competed in two of his scheduled six races with the team.
Should Newman win all four races at Bristol, one fan will pocket the same amount he would win in purse money – approximately $400,000 – in the “Win What Ryan Wins” promotion. Also, fans can enter the “Rocket Ryan’s Pick ‘Em” contest and pick Newman’s finish in each of the four races.
Both contests will begin online July 6. More information is available at www.bristolmotorspeedway.com.
