Ryan Newman has his sights set on winning both races in this year’s SMART Modified Tour doubleheader on the Crystal Coast after scoring a win last year at Coastal Plains.
Newman, who won the 2008 Daytona 500 and 2013 Brickyard 400, sits second in series points and has two wins on the season and five on his career. Last year, when the SMART Modified Tour’s doubleheader was condensed to a first in history single day due to weather, Newman picked up a win at Coastal Plains Raceway and a third place finish later that evening at Carteret County Speedway.
“That was a first for me,” Newman recalled. “Unfortunately, Mother Nature forced us in that position, but by cooperation between the racetracks and Chris Williams and the SMART Tour staff, they put it all together and were able to pull it off. I wish we could have got the double no doubt but just winning the first one, especially my first time there, is kind of cool to start the day that way.”
With experience now at both Carteret County and Coastal Plains, Newman hopes to sweep the coastal doubleheader.
“I really like both racetracks,” Newman told Short Track Scene. “I came out with a top three at Carteret. They’re both fun racetracks and I look forward to going to them. We really, as a team, need to capitalize on the opportunity. This is the start of our season ending stretch right here. We’re getting back going after a lag in the season and then you know, getting to the point where we can finish the season at our best is what it’s all about. I think we have a great team and a great opportunity and we look forward to coming down to the coast to race.”
Newman’s daughter, Brooklyn, will also be competing at both Coastal Plains and Carteret County Speedway in the Carolina Crate Modified Series, which is running as a companion event with the SMART Modified Tour.
“My daughter’s going to be racing the 602 at both racetracks,” Newman stated. “I think it’s going to be extra fun, and extra work for me, so I look forward to it. She’s been running the Carolina Crate Modifieds here for a good part of the summer and, really, whenever it makes sense that she can go racing.”
While many parents are more nervous about their own kids racing, Ryan is confident in Brooklyn’s skill and has a calmer demeanor on race days.
“I’m pretty confident in her abilities,” Newman explained. “I get a little bit nervous but not near the extent I thought I would or most other parents do. I’m happy that I’ve been able to take that approach and I think that helps her to be somewhat calm when she gets out of the racecar so we can talk about it.”
Both Crystal Coast tracks provide a unique challenge to competitors. Coastal Plains, which runs on Friday night, features 12 degrees of banking and a smooth but gritty surface which maximizes tire degradation, while Carteret is completely flat.
“Coastal Plains has a lot of character,” Newman remarked. “The asphalt’s currently old or at least wears tires a lot. You kind of have to change your strategy there. Carteret’s probably the equivalent to racing in a parking lot. It’s so flat but it’s a lot of fun. Jus getting your left nerf bar, left side tires next to the inside wall is kind of unique at that racetrack. They’re both fun racetracks. They’re a good bit different, but I look forward to racing this weekend.”
Newman competed regularly in the NASCAR Cup Series from 2002 through 2021, with a handful of races before and after, amassing 18 career wins and 51 career poles in 733 career starts. His reputation for being a fast qualifier, along with his engineering degree from Purdue University, earned him the nickname “Rocket Man.”
After stepping away from NASCAR, he made the decision to compete in the short track ranks any opportunity he can. Along with competing in the SMART Modified Tour, Newman has one career start in the zMAX CARS Tour and has competed part-time in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour since 2008.
“I just look forward to racing, really,” Newman commented. “I feel like I bring a lot of experience to the table. Other guys do too. We want to go down there, have a good experience kind of like last year and build toward the end of our season.”
Friday night’s Cardinal 99 at Coastal Plains Raceway is set to go green at 7:15pm with the SMART Modified Tour rolling off first. Saturday’s Carteret Clash at Carteret County Speedway will get underway at 6:00pm, with Legends and the Carolina Crate Modified Series preceding the SMART Modified Tour. Both races will be broadcast live on FloRacing.
