Rick Ware Racing takes NASCAR Throwback Weekend very seriously. On Friday, the organization announced Ryan Newman, an 18-time NASCAR Cup Series race winner, as the driver of one of the team's entries for the Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway.
According to a press release from the team, Newman, who hasn't competed in the NASCAR Cup Series since the 2021 season, will compete in select races for the team in 2023.
Newman brings a wealth of experience to the table for the Rick Ware Racing organization.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to work with Rick Ware Racing and Ford,” Newman said. “I think this will be good for all of us with our combined experience and knowledge.”
For the organization, being able to team with a driver of Newman's caliber is an important asset.
“He brings great depth and insight to RWR while we continue to grow our team," said Rick Ware Racing team owner Rick Ware. "Ryan’s been a great ambassador for our sport and Ford. We’re really looking forward to racing with him this season.”
Newman, 45, is a 20-year full-time competitor in the NASCAR Cup Series that was recently announced as one of NASCAR's 75 Greatest Drivers. Newman is affectionately known as "The Rocket Man" due to his incredible ability to score pole positions. The Indiana native has 51-career NASCAR Cup Series pole positions.
While Newman never won a NASCAR Cup Series championship, the hard-nosed racer narrowly missed out on the 2014 championship in the closing laps at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Newman would finish runner-up to Kevin Harvick for the title that season, despite Newman not capturing a victory that year.
Newman scored a career-high eight victories during the 2003 NASCAR Cup Series campaign.
Through the later stages of his career, Newman made a name for himself by maximizing the performance in his race cars. As a result, Newman was able to record NASCAR Cup Series Playoff berths with four different organizations (Team Penske, Stewart-Haas Racing, Richard Childress Racing and RFK Racing).
The 2002 NASCAR Cup Series Rookie of the Year, Newman has also scored victories in the Daytona 500 (2008), Brickyard 400 (2013), as well as the NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race (2002).
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