Ryan 100%(ish) sure of staying.

[Schmoopy1000]

LONG POND, Pa. -- Ryan Newman says he is 100 percent focused on staying at Stewart-Haas Racing in 2013, not returning to Penske Racing.



The No. 22 at Penske Racing became available for next season on Tuesday when the team released suspended driver AJ Allmendinger.



Newman, who drove for Penske Racing from 2002 until 2008, said he has not contacted his former team about a possible return if sponsorship can't be found for him at SHR.



SHR owner Tony Stewart has said he wants Newman back as long as sponsorship can be found. That took a major hit recently when U.S. Army, which sponsored 12 races for the No. 39, announced it would not return.



"There's potential for absolutely anything,'' Newman said after Saturday's qualifying at Pocono Raceway. "My goal is to stay at Stewart-Haas and continue what we're doing. We're working on that.''

Asked to define the odds of his staying at SHR, Newman added, "Right now, 100 percent, I hope.''

Sam Hornish Jr. has the early edge to drive the No. 22 next season. He has driven the car since Allmendinger tested positive for amphetamines more than a month ago and is slated to be in the car for the foreseeable future.

"Roger has a tough situation to figure out right now,'' Newman said of former team owner Roger Penske. "We all see that. I'm happy doing what I'm doing. I just want to make sure we get the paperwork done and move forward.''

But Newman said he didn't burn any bridges that would prevent him from returning to Penske if things didn't work out at SHR.

"Absolutely not,'' he said. "I made it a point not to.''

But again, he reiterated, the focus is staying put.



"We're just trying to work on everything,'' Newman said. "We're trying to work on sponsorship, we're trying to work on the funding part of it as well as tying all the races together so it flows. If it doesn't flow good then it's not good for me or anybody else at the shop.''

from espn.com

All I know is words like Right now, & I hope means to me means it isnt 100%.
Also found it interesting he pointed out he hasnt burnt any bridges at Penske, like some of us were thinking.

[michaeljohn]

i read this earlier and it all revolves around a sponsor, one point i want to bring up, now that the military is allowed to keep sponsoring, how comes ya dont hear nothing about the army resigning up with SHR??? maybe when all was said and done maybe the army was looking to get out of nascar, because they kept cutting back races.

id really hate to see ryan get screwed out of a ride cuz there is no sponsorship, sounds like he wants nothing to do with penske, so who knows..............

[Annalee]

Schmoopy on Race hub Ryan said they (SHR) were just working out the details...hope so! Maybe Tony is racing at all these dirt tracks because he wants to sponsor Ryan car for him......I could see it Tornados and Stewarts Hot Salsa and BBQ Sauce...

[newmanfan3914]

Maybe Shell needs a stable driver...Ryan at SHR. Penske seems to be having problems with that...
How about Bass Pro a great fit as we know and I think its a contract year with them.

Naturally a new crew/chief!!!(tired of losing positions on pit road)

Then again it takes time for new company members to mesh. ie; Addington, Zippy also helping Gibson figure out how to make big swings instead of the small useless ones during the race.(takes him too long on adjustments) Well time will tell but I know sponsorship will fall ito place.

Just rambling............

[Rochelle]

i read this earlier and it all revolves around a sponsor, one point i want to bring up, now that the military is allowed to keep sponsoring, how comes ya dont hear nothing about the army resigning up with SHR??? maybe when all was said and done maybe the army was looking to get out of nascar, because they kept cutting back races.

id really hate to see ryan get screwed out of a ride cuz there is no sponsorship, sounds like he wants nothing to do with penske, so who knows..............

From what I heard they were leaving regardless of the vote. I think it was the price tag associated with their sponsorship. It's a shame, if nothing else, they could have cut back a little more.

[michaeljohn]

Maybe Shell needs a stable driver...Ryan at SHR. Penske seems to be having problems with that...
How about Bass Pro a great fit as we know and I think its a contract year with them.

Naturally a new crew/chief!!!(tired of losing positions on pit road)

Then again it takes time for new company members to mesh. ie; Addington, Zippy also helping Gibson figure out how to make big swings instead of the small useless ones during the race.(takes him too long on adjustments) Well time will tell but I know sponsorship will fall ito place.

Just rambling............

shell isnt going anywhere, a stipulation to them sponsoring penske was that penske would agree to use pennzoil products exclusively in all of his dealerships,

Bass Pro would be a great fit, but the man who own BP is very loyal and because JM had that fluke year, he is going to stick around, plus he has been attached with DEI for a gazillion years, but if he had any brains he would move his sponsorship to SHR, at least there they get results more importantly, exposure and wins...

[Annalee]

NASCAR Now.......they interviewed Ryan.....He is happy and doesn't want to go anywhere else!! Hope so..Some one needs to send the photo of Ryan and Brooklynn fishing, to Bass Pro shops to the ad people ....As much as I think that would be the perfect fit for sponsorship I think they will probably stick with Jamie, RCR and his up and coming grandson's...but then again they also sponsor some of Tony's dirt track racing...who knows!! Unless this economy turns around, it could be devastating for all sponsorships.

[Smokeshow14]

Sounds to me like Ryan is done with Penske. It looks like they are trying to get Quicken Loans to expand their sponsorship. I never thought Ryan was going to leave he looks to happy here.