By: Zach Catanzareti, Staff Writer
In his first season with Roush Fenway Racing, Ryan Newman has yet to score a top-10 finish in 2019.
And following an offseason loaded with change, the veteran is evolving his expectations against the competition in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.
Entering Sunday at Bristol 20th in driver points, Newman understands RFR’s place after the opening seven races.
“I expected to be better than where we are,” Newman said. “I think 37 other guys would tell you the same thing, but at the same time we are where we are. I recognize our strengths and I recognize our weaknesses and we just have to go out there and fix everything we possibly can and then some.
“The guys that are winning are still doing a better job the next week, so we’re behind the eight-ball, but at least we have a little shade.”
Now having seven races under his belt, Newman has a greater perspective for his No. 6 Ford team.
“This is the first time I’ve ever had everything new – I mean absolutely everything,” he said. “Even when I started, when I had no idea what NASCAR Cup racing was about, we still did a bunch of testing. Here, we did one test for a day-and-a-half in Vegas and came out with a new car, a new engine, a new crew chief, a new manufacturer so to speak – not just body and aero rules, but a Mustang body. Everything was new and I think I underestimated that just a little bit.”
“Saying that, I think we’ve done a good job of making ourselves competitive. We’re obviously on the outside looking in now of the top 16, but I feel like we’re more than capable of racing our way up and performing better each and every week.”
With the mid-field competition hot and heavy, Victory Lane has been dominated by Joe Gibbs Racing and Team Penske thus far in 2019. Newman knows the challenge of “new” is a steep hill.
“The way the state of the sport is now,” he said, “when you’re competing so tightly against other organizations — we’re one of 14 Fords, so if you’re behind, you’re behind 14 or more potentially.
“The way it is, it’s really tough to have yourself be that top five percent. I think right now we’re the top 40 percent and that’s not good enough.”
One way Newman has gelled well with the new home is by visiting the team’s race shop throughout these openign spring races. Something he’s done more now than ever.
“I’ve spent four times as much time at the shop per week than I did in the last five years,” he said. “Which is bad and good because as a driver you’re spending time there because you need to make things better. We’ve had some really great meeting when we have our sitdowns — not just a meeting but layers of meetings that make us perform better and learn where we’re at.”