Ryan Newman 2015 Season Preview
By Richard Tix
Going into the Finale at Homestead was there a driver who had been getting bashed by the fans more than Ryan Newman? Ok, ok. Going into the Finale was there a driver bashed more than Brad Keselowksi ad then Newman in that order? I would beg to argue, no.
That's because fans just couldn't take it that Newman had a chance at a title without a win? Or maybe, they couldn't stand it because there driver had 4 or 5 wins and no shot at the title? No matter what the reason, fans took it out on Newman.
But, lets take a look back at 2003. Newman had 8 wins, 17 top 5's, 22 top 10's, and an average finish of 13.9 yet he finished 6th in the points, 6th! The winner that year was a one win Matt Kenseth who had 11 top 5's and 25 top 10's. I would beg to say he won his Championship mostly on consistency.
So, whats the difference? That one whole win? Or the fact that fans took NASCAR's marketing as winning meant everything?
Lets go bigger than that and form our own opinions after we see how the Chase plays out. I tried to hold back full judgement until the end of the Chase, and shut out the media hyping or playing down the new format.
In the end I found the last 10 races with a load of excitement and a system that left the door open to a guy with 5 wins or 0 at the end.
2014 was Newmans most consistent season as a Cup driver. His 12.7 average finish was his best mark of his career. He found a different way to get to the Finale and it ruffled everyone feathers. In the end he came up short of the end goal, a Championship.
I would beg to bet that on average most seasons NASCAR will not have many guys like Newman with zero wins in the Finale, but it will happen every now and then. So, fans, brace yourself it might happen again.
Bold Predictions/2015 Season Expectations:
- It's not bold, but I will put it out there and say I don't think he will make the Finale again. Having said that, I think he has a shot to get back in the win column this season, but as a whole the season might not be as smooth. At this point in his career he is expected to at least make the Chase. I think a win, 5-7 top 5's, and 14-16 top 10's should be plausible.
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