Chase hopefuls Busch, Kahne, Johnson, Junior strong in practice
By Dave Rodman, NASCAR.COM
October 13, 2006
08:07 PM EDT (00:07 GMT)
CONCORD, N.C. -- Ryan Newman's 2006 difficulties with the Nextel Cup Series' intermediate racetracks continued in practice Friday at Lowe's Motor Speedway, as Newman wrecked his primary No. 12 Dodge after only six laps of preparation for Saturday night's Bank of America 500.
But after going to his backup car, which Newman said he last used at Lowe's for the Coca-Cola 600 in May, Newman rebounded in Happy Hour to run 30 laps and post the 11th-best speed out of 43 competitors.
"The backup car's OK -- it's the same car we had here for the 600, which at times was a good car, but we failed a wheel bearing and never got a chance to prove it," Newman said. "It's one of our better cars that we've seen all year -- and it feels better than the car that I crashed, obviously.
"We've got a little bit more work to do to be a little bit more consistent through a run -- and a little faster -- but we had one run there that seemed to be pretty decent, so I'm pretty happy about that."
A pair of drivers who are contenders in the Chase for the Nextel Cup and who have better intermediate stats this season than Newman paced the one-hour opening practice and the 45-minute final session.
Kyle Busch, who never had a chance to show how good his No. 5 Chevrolet was in May's Coca-Cola 600, turned the best lap in the opening session on the 1.5-mile speedway, 29.378 seconds, an average speed of 183.811 mph on his 32nd of 34 laps.
Kasey Kahne, whose five victories this season in his No. 9 Dodge have all come at intermediate tracks -- including a victory in the Coke 600, was second in the opening session and fourth-best in final practice.
Dale Earnhardt Jr., who has three career intermediate victories and who's on the verge of a much-needed breakthrough in the Chase, turned it on in Happy Hour as he ran 34 laps in his No. 8 Chevrolet, with the day's best, 29.357 seconds, 183.943 mph.
Chase contenders dominated the top five in both practices, with Busch second in Happy Hour.
Robby Gordon, Clint Bowyer and Chase contender Jimmie Johnson, who's won the last two October races at Lowe's, rounded out the top five in the opening session.
Three Chase contenders -- Denny Hamlin, Kahne and Johnson -- rounded out the top five in Happy Hour. While he bemoaned the laps he lost in the first session after crashing in Turn 4, Newman said he saw enough in Happy Hour to cite his own favorites for Saturday night.
"I think the 8 car is pretty good and the 5 car has looked good," Newman said. "The 48 [Johnson] and the 9 -- those guys are definitely good -- so it all depends on how things go.
"I felt like Goodyear's brought a better tire here, and it feels like it's more forgiving, even though I was one of a few guys that did hit the wall [Friday] -- but the tire does feel better for grip and forgiveness.
"I think that will make for better racing and driving for everybody."
But for his own part, Newman said he wasn't sure if his funk over the 2006 Dodge Charger would be broken Saturday night or not. In the opening practice, Greg Biffle spun in Turn 4 without contact and there was a caution for oil on the racetrack before Newman's mishap.
"It just got loose," Newman said. "Before the center of the corner, it just snapped loose on me, and that was it -- all she wrote. I was on the loose side, but it never stepped out [before the crash].
"Usually when it steps out a little bit, you can save it -- but this was weird, it just was gone [and] there was no chance of bringing it back."
The wrecked car was the pole winner from Dover in June, where Newman said it also raced well. He said he rued the missed practice time lost in the longer opening session.
"We had a whole list of things we wanted to try, and never got a chance to," Newman said. "So yeah, the testing procedure we have now hurt us in that respect, and we didn't get the answers we needed -- so we'll have to run what we brung."
Nearly half of Newman's 12 career victories and 37 career Bud Poles have come on intermediate ovals -- but Newman has no wins and only two poles this season, with both of those coming at mile ovals.
So while Happy Hour was a cause for some optimism the bulk of the season has been overwhelming for the team that won 11 races during the last three seasons.
"Based off this year, I don't really feel comfortable about [Saturday night]," Newman said. "But this car does feel better and I won't say pretty good -- but it's good. I think in the right conditions this car will be pretty good.
"It seems like we struggle with the dirty air more than most of the other teams -- and the other manufacturers do, for that matter."
Ryan just has not had a good year this year. I know that it happens to all drivers, but when it happens to yours.......Well I am still a die-hard Newman fan and I have faith that next year things will be better!
Is it 2007 yet?!?!?!?!?!?!