Thursday, March 28, 2024
Miles from the Mainstream
D. R. ZUKERMAN, proprietor

Congratulations Ryan

FEBRUARY 19, 2008 --

LPR congratulates Ryan Newman, winner of the Daytona 500, NASCAR's "Great American Race."   

LPR attended a February 19 photo op, at New York's Waldorf-Astoria for this year's Dayton 500 champion, and heard Ryan ackowledge that he got a little help from Penske teammater Kurt Busch in beating out Tony Stewart -- Busch came second, Stewart was third. Ryan added that he would like to think he'd have done the same for Busch. LPR has no doubt he would have. Ryan indicated that as a Daytona winner he regards himself as a NASCAR ambassador.

Other media stops for the new and personable NASCAR ambassador included the Letterman show the evening before and a visit to ESPN's Bristol, CT studios, before heading to the next NASCAR race in California, February 24. Previously-scheduled dog-sitting responsibilities kept LPR from staying for lunch.  

LPR does thank NASCAR's Laz Benitez for arranging a doggy bag -- and LPR affirms that all contents went to "Libby."

The accompanying images show Ryan proudly displaying his Daytona 500 champion's ring to another photographer, giving LPR a close-up view  of the ring, Ryan and wife Krissie smiling for the LPR camera and an LPR image of the top ten Nextel Cup drivers in 2005.  

Ryan was sixth, that year, to Nextel champion Tony Stewart.  This year, the name of the symbol of the NASCAR championship has been changed to the Sprint Cup.  

The last Daytona  500 winner to win the NASCAR championship was Jimmie Johnson in 2006.  

Will Ryan Newman be the next NASCAR champion to open the season with a Daytona win?

LPR also wonders:  will the last ten races of the NASCAR season come to be known as "The sprint for The Sprint?"

 

Ryan Newman, winner of the 50th Daytona 500


Ryan's Daytona 500 ring


Ryan and wife Krissie


The top ten NASCAR drivers in 2005 -- Ryan is 6th from right.