After a tumultuous season on and off the track, it all comes down to Saturday night’s Federated Auto Parts 400 race for Ryan Newman, with his last opportunity to land a wild card looming over the finish line. After his fifth-place finish last weekend in the AdvoCare 500 in Atlanta, his chances are possible, but they’re tight.
With the future of the 2013 season hinging on this race, it wouldn’t be crazy if Newman was a little distracted going in to this weekend, but he maintains he still has his eye on the prize. And that’s edging his way into the 12-driver Chase field with a victory at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway.
Currently sitting precariously in 14th-place in the point standings, a win Saturday night would secure the 12th wild card spot for Newman. Otherwise, a whole complicated series of events has to occur in order for him to make the Chase. The numbers are on Newman’s side, though, with his average Richmond finish coming in at 11.8, making it his best track statistically. He’s had one win, one pole, five top-five finishes and 13 top-10s in 23 career Sprint Cup starts at the track.
If Newman ends up racing his way into the Chase field at Richmond on Saturday, it wouldn’t be the first time he’s clinched one of the 12-driver spots in the final regular-season race. In 2005, when he was just one point outside the playoffs, a 12th-place finish allowed him to grab a coveted Chase spot. Still, a win is what Newman’s looking for this weekend. “Win and we’re in,” he and his No. 39 team say.
From all of us here at State, we’re pulling for you, Ryan. We know you can do it!
The Federated Auto Parts 400 race at Richmond starts at 7:30 p.m. EDT, with live coverage provided by ABC beginning with the pre-race show at 7 p.m.
