NEWMAN: Bristol Motor Speedway Advance
08-17-2009 10:24 am

BRISTOL BOUND: This weekend Ryan Newman will make his third career Truck Series start and his first start in a truck at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway behind the wheel of the No. 2 Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) Pringles Chevrolet Silverado. 

Newman has recorded six starts in the Nationwide Series at Bristol, collecting one win, two top-five and five top- 10 finishes on his way to leading 300 laps and completing 99. 7 percent of laps attempted (1548 of 1552 laps). In the Cup Series at Bristol, Newman has compiled 15 starts with one top-five and eight top-10 finishes. 

BRISTOL GRAND SLAM: Newman will add his name to the NASCAR history books this weekend at Brstol Motor Speedway as he becomes the first driver to compete in NASCAR's top three divisions, as well as the Whelen Modified Series, at the same track in the same week.

Starting on Wednesday, Newman will pilot the No. 7NY Aggressive Hydraulics ride in the UNOH Perfect Storm 150 and the No. 2 Pringles truck, owned by Kevin Harvick Inc. in the O'Reilly 200, followed on Friday night in the No. 5 Fastenal Nationwide car owned by JR Motorsports in the Food City 250 and Saturday night behind the wheel of the No. 39 U.S. Army/Haas Automation ride, owned by Stewart-Haas, in the Sharpie 500.

When totaled, Newman has the opportunity to compete in 1,100 laps for more than 586 miles around the .533-mile oval over three nights of competition and could be in the seat for more than seven hours.

REUNITING FORCES: Ernie Cope, who regularly serves as crew chief for KHI's No. 33 Nationwide Series team, will call the shots from atop the pit box for Newman and the No. 2 Pringles team. The last time Newman piloted the No. 2 Chevrolet Silverado was in 2008 at Atlanta Motor Speedway when he made his series debut. For that race, Cope called the shots and Newman earned his first Truck Series win and Cope earned his first career NASCAR win. 

BEFORE THE RACE: QUOTES WITH DRIVER RYAN NEWMAN:

How are you preparing yourself to compete in all four races at Bristol Motor Speedway? "It is going to be a challenge to compete in all four races, but I am really looking forward to it. It's a lot of miles, a lot of laps. I have done the Nationwide and Cup races on the back-to-back nights in August before, and that can be difficult. Throw in the Truck and the Modified race on Wednesday, and it's like I am running a second Cup race there. So, I know it is not going to be easy. I know it's going to be hot and sticky at Bristol. And always, Bristol is a very physically demanding track. I will have to be sure to stay hydrated and loose, and Bristol is as much a mental racetrack as a physical one. It's going to be fun and a challenge and I'm looking forward to it. I just hope that I can put on a good show for all of my sponsors and all of the fans out there who will be supporting me." 

Talk about racing under the lights at Bristol: "I have always enjoyed the Bristol night race, and I know that it's something that the fans really love. I know the fans didn't think that there was enough bumping and banging at Bristol last fall, but to me the racing is better there now. We can race side-by-side and actually gain spots without having to wreck someone. And the fans will still get an exciting race — it's Bristol. To me, the night races are some of my favorites because I grew up racing on Saturday nights at local tracks. This race has that feel to it although there are hundreds of thousands of fans in the stands."

CHASSIS HISTORY: This weekend the No. 2 Pringles team will unload chassis No. 016 for Ryan Newman at Bristol Motor Speedway. This truck chassis is a special one for Newman. In 2008, making his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut, Newman piloted chassis No. 016 at Atlanta Motor Speedway where in his first career start, he earned his first career Truck Series win. 

PREVIOUS RACE RECAP: The No. 2 Chevrolet Silverado was last on track at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway in March for the Kroger 250 where KHI team co-owner Kevin Harvick won the rain-delayed race and teammate Ron Hornaday in the No. 33 Silverado finished second.