Why did MBM Motorsports sign Ryan Newman to drive in the Miami Xfinity race despite his last start in the series being in 2012?
Ryan Newman is chasing his first Xfinity win in 18 years on Sunday.
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Ryan Newman (Via IMAGO)
18 times Cup race winner and 2008 Daytona 500 winner Ryan Newman will make his first Xfinity Series start after 11 years in the 2012 season finale race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. He will drive the No. 66 MBM Motorsports Ford Mustang, and GenerX Generators sponsor his second-tier return.
He made his final start in the second tier in 2012 with Turner Motorsports at the Texas Motor Speedway, where he secured a P19 finish. He has had a solid career in the second tier. Newman is one of the drivers who debuted his Cup before racing in the Xfinity series. From 84 races in, he has scored seven wins and 25 top-10s.
Newman, after one year of absence from NASCAR after retirement in 2021, made a return to the Cup series, driving for Rick Ware Racing. But the Xfinity move was a surprise for many fans. MBM team owner Carl Long, while talking about the decision, pointed out that it was a no-brainer for him to give the veteran a chance.
“I have known Ryan since his rookie season in the Cup Series, and when the opportunity presented itself to have him join us in Miami, it was a no-brainer to elevate our organization. Having a partner like GenerX Generators come back is not only massive but also give us the opportunity to have Ryan help represent their brand,” Long said in a statement (H&T: Motorsports).
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Ryan Newman has some hopes for securing his first Xfinity win in 18 years
Newman, while talking about his Xfinity start, pointed out that Miami is one of his favorite tracks. He believes the track suits his style perfectly as it demands tire wear management from the drivers. Newman pointed out that his goal for Miami is to secure a potential win for them, which would be his first since the race at Charlotte.
“Homestead is one of my favorite tracks on the schedule. From being able to rip the fence to having to manage tire wear, the track suits my driving style perfectly. My goal is to give Carl, MBM Motorsports, and their partners a fantastic run and hopefully end the evening in victory lane!” Newman said.
Newman, named one of the top 75 drivers of all time this season, has had a strong run in 2023 that saw him win the SRX championship. In his five Cup starts, he has scored reasonable finishes with the RWR car that was at his disposal.
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Justin P Joy
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