POST MARTINSVILLE MY THOUGHTS AND YOURS

I don't want to take away from all the drama/excitement from the Martinsville win. It was a great finish no doubt. Let's face it, this past race was not won by any amazing crew chief help or Ryan's race team. It was a rare opportunity that Ryan took advantage of plain and simple. That's racing!

I will not anoint TG and will still stand by my feelings that Team #39 needs improvement. This is not being negative but more being a realist. There is a difference.

I realize this is a "tired topic" but how else can you get conversation going?

Are you convinced that Team #39 has arrived now or do they still need some fixing?

There's no racing this coming weekend. Newman said he's staying home and that Greg and Diane Newman are coming up from Florida. I would guess his in-laws are coming in from New Jersey. I will be working as always!(Sat.&Sun.)

Please feel free to say what ever or tell us what you may be doing this coming week-end! Take care if you are traveling...be safe.

I am sceptical of the 39 team being fixed yet. How ever I think the situation has been addressed and I think Zippy has the level of comunication up the tempo up and the team aware of the past problems. This could be the begining of the evolution of the 39 team. I as a long time Newman fan believe this could be the begining of a great year for Ryan and both SHR drivers.

I will be working all weekend myself but wish everyone a great holiday weekend and everyone at SHR some well deserved time off as they head into Texas for the next cup race.

GO SHR!!!!!

Im inclined to agree w/ u Chevy....this win was won by skill on Ryan's part...of course a bit of luck as well....but i dont give credit to TG either....he did not win this....Ryan alone did...Thank goodness he is a great driver.....But i agree w/ Chuck as well....i think Zippy comin on board will help a lot...if TG cant get it done w/ him around he will never "get it"....and i hope Ryan will realize that by the end of the season at least and they bring in someone new next yr....

OH BTW......I got my free Blooming Onion last nite....it was GOOOOOOOOD...Thanks Rocketman


tc

I dont think they have arrived yet either & agree with a lot of what you say Chevy.
The 39 team still struggles with 4 tire stops
TG still needs to improve as a CC but is improving so that is a good sign. Big test is when he goes to the aero tracks (like texas) that is where TG seems to show his weaknesses the most. On the cookie cutters & the 2 milers. Martinsville is a drivers track & I knew he would do well. Really thought he should be in the top 5 if everyone did their job but was only about a 6th place car (before the carnage)

Now I do see good things going on with the #39 team & hearing more stuff that gives me some hope. Which I havent had much of in a very long time with this team.
The last two races TG has been sounding confident & in charge over the radio. Still hasnt kept up with the track, but I will take the baby steps here. A long season. Ryan has only asked for something different than what TG was going to do I believe twice. Which is also an improvement. I heard different people in different interviews say that Addington, Zippy & TG are communicating well. heard from TG himself saying (admitting) that he has learned a lot from Addington & Zippy already. (with more to come I hope) Was listening to the radio on their last pitstops & the fact they TG & Ryan were aware that the guys would take two tires & they would probably be lefts. They decided to take rights with pumped up air pressures, which would be good for about two laps. Shows they were thinking ahead of the situation to come, vs standard CCing for dummies (like I often accuse him of) So I see improvements in his decision making, but maybe just as important, in his demeanor. He was even barking orders to the spotter (about traffic) during last race. maybe he is learning to lead. Now if we can get him to not worry about making a mistake. & be aggressive so they can have a decent handling car early so they can fine tune late will be awesome. I was putting my hopes & dreams into Zippy fixing TG, but the more I hear talk, the more it sounds like Addington is the major difference maker for the 39 team. Who would have thunk it.
BTW Chevy the 39 team did help Ryan win this raace if we are gonna be fair about dogging them, we need to give them their credit as well.
For whatever reason they have issues on 4 tire stops but are bad fast at two tire stops. They gained a position on the last stop over Dale Jr. Which because of that gain of a spot allowed Ryan to start on the inside of row three instead of the outside of row three. Which is the only reason Ryan was in position to do what he did. So the #39 team did help him in the end. Two things I usually hope for in a race. the #39 teams last stop be a two tire stop, & a late yellow. I dont think there is another driver even close to ryan on points gained on the late yellows of a race. four tires stops they usually losse spots. two tire stops they gain (usually) & late yellows Ryan will drive the wheels off a bad handling car for a few laps, where if long run not much he can do to make anything up.

All in all I think the team is heading in the right direction. Wouldnt get all crazy just yet, but like the direction they are headed. With a little Luck Ryan can make some teams nervous. I mean he finally got some good luck & he takes home the trophy.
With out the bad luck at Daytona or Phoenix where he was wrecked I figured he lost atleast 30 pts in those two wrecks he would be leading the points right now. Not to bad considering the team can still improve a lot.
#### if tony doesnt have fuel issues at phoenix he could be leading the points. The biff & Dale Jr really hasnt had any bad luck to counter woulda coulda shoulda's.
SHR is looking pretty good right now. 3 of 6 races belong to SHR this year.

I think TG has more up to "the verdict is out" status.

Ryan won that race on luck. No way around it. Now a win is a win and he did a great job to put himself in a positon, but he also got lapped early because he was speeding on pitroad.

Steve Addington and Gibson communicate better then Grubb and Gibson ever did from what Tony Stewart and Newman have said. Zippy has for sure been a great leader for Gibson. Gibson has even said he has learned alot since the off season.

Gibson is not a bad crew chief. Three wins, finishes of 9th, 15th and 10th in points is decent. The question is will they now finally go past that and be contenders?

It takes baby steps. Just have to watch how they perform the rest of season and if they make the chase (which I think they will) how they perform in the chase.

I actually think Newman had good performance in the chase last season, but he had bad luck. You need to be good and lucky in this sport. That is why he won Sunday and Jeff Gordon didn't.

If you really LISTEN to what Ryan is saying, I think he just lacked CONFIDENCE. He talked about making a Snowman when Tony was building the Statue of Liberty. He also eluded to TG and Darian not really sharing info, and the fact Steve and TG are doing that now. When you watch your team mate win almost every other race and you are not, no matter how good a driver you are, it shakes your confidence! He has the talent, he has the equipment, he has the team, and now he has momentum and that is just what the doctor ordered. And as much as you think it is his crew chief, I don't foresee any change there. RYAN likes what he has! He is not shy and trust me he would let SHR know if he didn't like something. He and Tony are that good of friends. Momentum and confidence is now on his side. Plus that ZIPPY magic! Let's see what happens now!

I actually think Newman had good performance in the chase last season, but he had bad luck. You need to be good and lucky in this sport. That is why he won Sunday and Jeff Gordon didn't.

Good racing luck is one of those intangibles that Ryan Newman has NOT had most of his racing career. Trust me, after watching him for so many years. His luck is often NOT GOOD overall in his racing career!

His first Daytona race back in 2002 he was wrecked and flipped several times!

I think of all those struggling years with the Dodge Charger nose problem. Newman has spent most of his career "backing up" and not getting better in most cases.

There was one thing that was constant with Ryan......he never gives up regardless of his situation but you can't make an ill race car go fast....PERIOD!

sunday was a double edge sword, he got a win, and tuna probably has job security for the next 5 years, if your last name isnt stewart, dont expect changes, cant wait for ryan to get a new ride........