Ryan Newman 2014 Fantasy NASCAR Preview
2013 Stats: Points Finish 11th, 2 Poles, 1 Win, 6 Top Fives, 18 Top Tens, Average Running Position 16.5, Average Finish 16.0, Laps Led 128 , Driver Rating 81.82
Strengths- Ryan Newman’s strongest fantasy value will likely be at flat tracks and short tracks in 2014. He’ll also get some good intermediate track results along the way.
Weaknesses- Much like Kasey Kahne Newman is prone to consistency issues. Also I would be very wary of picking him at plate tracks despite his recent success.
NASCAR 2014 Printable Schedule
Intermediate Track Grade- B+, On intermediate tracks in 2013 when Newman avoided trouble he typically finished between 6th and 15th. Not in a single race on this track type was he a contender for the win. Early in his career this was his best track type but over the last decade he hasn’t been anywhere near as strong. His last win on tracks that I call “High Speed intermediates” (intermediate tracks minus Darlington and Dover) was at Michigan in 2004.
Flat Track Grade- A-, Last season on the big flat tracks Ryan Newman scored the most points in the series. On the big flats he finished in the top five every race including a win from the pole at Indy. At Pocono last season he had results of 4th and 5th. Pocono is Newman’s better big flat track. In the last six races he has five top tens and a 6.8 average finish. In 2014 I don’t think he’ll be as strong with his new employer on the big flats.
Newman is pretty good on the smaller flat tracks. Last season he had some tough luck but I wouldn’t be to concerned. He has a good track history at both of these venues. In the seven New Hampshire races prior to 2013 he had 1 win, 6 top tens and a 9.3 average finish. That average result is slightly underrated because it includes one race that he won the pole, led 62 laps but ran out of gas at the end and finished 25th. At Phoenix last fall Newman finished 10th. In spring 2013 he had all sorts of problems and finished 40th. In the six Phoenix races prior to 2013 he had 1 win and finished 5th or better 5 times.
Short Track Grade- B+, I would describe Ryan Newman as an overrated / underrated short track driver. Many times he’s a popular selection but he’s a driver who will often burn you if you pick him.
From a career perspective Richmond is Ryan Newman’s best short track. He’s a former winner there and last September he would’ve got his second win if Clint Bowyer didn’t spin on purpose. Last spring Newman finished 15th. His next three most recent RIR results are 8th, 15th and 8th.
At Bristol Newman’s been involved in accidents in the last two August night races. In the nine races since August 2008 excluding the two most recent August races he’s finished in the top twelve 88.8% percent of the time. In spring 2013 he finished 7th.
Newman had a tough season at Martinsville in 2013. In the spring race he got himself black flagged for 3 laps and in the fall on lap 318 while he was battling Kevin Harvick for 6th place he got into the wall. His next three most recent results at Martinsville are 11th, 1st and 10th.
Restrictor Plate Track Grade- B, Ryan Newman is normally Mr. Tough Luck at these venues but it appears his fortunes are starting to turn. In 2013 he had three top tens. The one race he didn’t finish in the top ten was in the spring Talladega race when he was taken out in the late “Big One”. At Daytona last season he had results of 5th and 10th. In summer 2012 he also finished 5th. Prior to that his next most recent finish better than 20th was when he won the Daytona 500 in 2008.
At Talladega last season he had results of 9th and 32nd. In fall 2012 he finished 9th. Prior to that race he had six straight results of 23rd or worse.
Despite Newman’s recent success on these tracks I would be wary of picking him on plate tracks.
Road Course Track Grade- B, Early in Ryan Newman’s career he was a fantasy stud on road courses. That can by no means be said anymore. In four out of the last five races at Infineon he’s finished between 15th and 18th. In the last four races at Watkins Glen he’s finished between 11th and 16th every race. His recent results at these venues firmly establishes his fantasy potential in my eyes.
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