Ryan Newman 2020 Fantasy NASCAR Preview
Ryan Newman 2019 Stats: Points Finish 15th, 0 Wins, 3 Top Fives, 14 Top Tens, 14.6 Average Finish, 17.6 Average Running Position, 19 Laps Led, 71.72 Driver Rating
Strengths:
In 2020, look for Ryan Newman to be at his best at flat tracks, short tracks and superspeedways. I would also look for him to have solid fantasy production at intermediate tracks.
Weaknesses:
Ryan Newman is a solid driver who’s able to consistently finish well on many different track types, but his team lacks overall speed against the top teams.
Intermediate Track Fantasy Value – B
Ryan Newman is a respectable driver at intermediate tracks who shouldn’t get overlooked. He’s not a flashy option, but he’s a solid mid-tier driver who does a good job avoiding trouble and he’s able to consistently come home with a low double-digit to mid-teens finish.
Last year at intermediate tracks, Newman ran well (for his tier) and over the combined events minus Kansas #2 (crashed) he had a 15.6 average finish and a 17.8 average running position.
In 2020 on a weekly basis at intermediate tracks, I’m going to view Newman as a mid-teens driver who’s capable of finishing marginally better on a semi-frequent basis.
Flat Track Fantasy Value – B+
Ryan Newman is a solid driver at flat tracks. In 2019 on this track type he finished in the top ten 50% percent of the time and in the top fifteen 75% percent of the time. Over the combined events he had an 11.1 average finish and a 13.9 average running position. At both the bigger and the shorter-flat tracks he’s capable of coming home with a good finish.
Ryan Newman is a steady driver at the bigger flat tracks and in 2019 he had a 12.7 average finish. His best result for the season was 8th at Indy, and at Pocono he finished in the teens twice (14th and 16th).
Indy has ranked as his best bigger flat track and since 2012 he’s only once finished worse than 11th, and in that race he crashed. Currently, Newman has three straight top tens in a row there (7th place avg. finish). At Pocono, Newman hasn’t run as well and in 6 of the last 8 races he’s finished between 12th to 16th. His average finish over the last three races there is 12th.
Shorter-flat track racing is a strong suit for Newman and in 2019 over the five combined races he had a 10.2 average finish and a 13.2 average running position. In 2019 minus Phoenix, Newman finished in the top ten every race. This upcoming season at shorter-flat tracks, I’m going to view Newman as a solid low double-digit driver who has a good chance to finish in the top ten.
Short Track Fantasy Value – B+
Ryan Newman is a respectable short track racer. In 2019 on this track type over the six combined races he had 1 top five, 4 top tens and only once finished outside the top 11.
At Bristol, Newman has been a very solid performer and over the last five races he’s finished in the top 12 and has a 9.6 average finish. Over the last four races he’s finished between 9th to 12th. Last year his results were 9th and 11th.
Richmond statistically ranks as his best track overall and at no other venue does he have a better average finish (12.3). Last year, Newman swept the top ten and had results of 5th and 9th.
At Phoenix, Newman snuck in a win in spring 2017 but he hasn’t had a top ten since. Over the last five races he has three results between 11th to 20th and two results between 18th to 20th. Last fall he finished 18th, in the three races prior to that he had results of 12th, 11th and 11th.
Superspeedway Track Fantasy Value – A-
Ryan Newman isn’t a flashy option at superspeedways, but he’s proven to be one of the safest picks at both venues. In 9 of the last 12 races at superspeedways he’s finished in the top ten.
In 2019 at superspeedways, Newman scored the 2nd most points, had a series best 7.0 average finish and he’s the only driver who had a result in the top 14 every race.
At Talladega, Newman has performed well and in 5 of the last 6 races he’s finished in the top ten. Last year, Newman swept the top ten with results of 2nd and 7th. In fall 2018, Newman finished 25th. In the two races prior to that he had results of 2nd and 9th.
At Daytona, Newman has run extremely well and over the last five races he has a series best 8.0 average finish. Last year, Newman finished 5th in the summer and 14th in the season opening Daytona 500. In the three races prior to that he had results of 8th, 8th and 5th.
Road Course Fantasy Value – B-
Ryan Newman hasn’t shown much speed at road courses and there’s clearly better options out there. In 4 of the last 6 races on this track type he’s finished 19th or worse.
Last year at road courses, Newman finished 7th at Sonoma but in the other two races he didn’t fair well. At Watkins Glen, I’m pretty certain he made an extra pit stop (25th), and at the Charlotte Roval he was black flagged at the end (finished 32nd, was poised to finish around the low double-digits).
In 2020 at road courses, I would view Newman as a mid to high-teens driver who has potential to finish marginally better at all three venues.
