Golden moment: Newman wins 50th Daytona 500
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Flyin’ Ryan is flying again.
Ryan Newman, mired in a frustrating winless streak, burst out in the biggest of ways Sunday, scoring a tense victory in the 50th running of the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway
Newman and Penske Racing teammate Kurt Busch swept into first and second past leader Tony Stewart along the backstretch in the closing moments, and Newman stayed in front the rest of the way to win NASCAR’s marquee race. The win was Newman’s first in more than two years and put his car owner, long-time motorsports kingpin Roger Penske, in Daytona 500 victory lane for the first time.
“Without Kurt there was no way possible,” Newman said. “He could have made it three-wide, and he was the best teammate ever.”
Busch, who could have won under different circumstances, said he was pleased with a one-two Penske finish.
“It was very emotional pushing Ryan Newman across the line,” he said.
Stewart was the day’s big loser. He led as the field took the white flag but fell victim to the Penske draft. He dropped low on the backstretch in front of his teammate, Kyle Busch (Kurt’s brother), looking to create a competing drafting line. It didn’t work.
“It was a wrong decision,” Stewart said. “I tried to get down in front of Kyle. Then the 2 [Kurt Busch] got glued to the 12 [Newman]. It’s probably one of the most disappointing moments of my racing career.”
Much of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race was relatively calm as drivers and teams toyed with the cars formerly known as cars of tomorrow and tried to establish themselves for the final 50 laps.
There were no significant incidents until lap 162, when David Ragan lost control of his car in Turn 4 and tagged teammate Matt Kenseth. Both cars hit the outside wall, bringing out the day’s third caution.
Fifteen laps later, defending Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, racing in the middle of a pack of cars exiting Turn 2, went into a spin, collecting several cars and producing caution No. 4.
The mayhem wasn’t over. With 18 laps to go, Clint Bowyer spun onto the apron adjacent to Turn 1 as he, Jeff Burton and Newman raced three wide for the lead. Bowyer’s car apparently was tapped by the Dodge of Juan Pablo Montoya.
A few laps later, the caution flew again as Kevin Harvick bumped Dave Blaney into the wall and into the path of Mark Martin.
Then contender Casey Mears lost his shot at winning as he moved high in Turn 1 and was clipped by Stewart. Mears hit the wall, forcing another caution and setting up the three-lap dash to the finish. Jeff Burton, Kyle Busch and Stewart ran in the top three as they took the day’s last green flag.
Following Newman, who won the 500 for the first time, were Kurt Busch, Stewart, Kyle Busch and Reed Sorenson.
