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Gone Fishing: Newman, New Crew Chief McCauley Have High 2008 Hopes

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Jan. 16, 2008) ? The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series? resident fisherman, Ryan Newman (No. 12 Alltel Dodge), couldn?t resist a few casts into Daytona International Speedway?s Lake Lloyd following Tuesday afternoon?s session of NASCAR Preseason Thunder ? NASCAR?s annual January tests at Daytona.

And on Wednesday morning, Newman couldn?t resist parking his tackle box and fishing rods outside the track?s infield media center before heading inside for some ?fish tales.?

?I just didn?t feel like bringing them in cause I thought we would talk about racing a little bit,? he said, joking.
Indeed, racing and other subjects of import to Newman were covered during the morning media visit, which preceded NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams? final full day of testing for the season-opening Daytona 500.

Threat of afternoon rain amended Wednesday?s schedule, as teams worked through the noon lunch break to avoid losing track time. For Newman, who?s paired with new crew chief Roy McCauley, the Tuesday afternoon angling mirrors his own fishing expedition back into championship contention. Along with bass and trout, he?s targeting Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup participation after a two-year absence ? a mission that begins with the 50th Daytona 500 on Feb. 17.

?The 50th one is pretty big,? said Newman, who led Tuesday afternoon?s drafting session at 188.013 mph (47.869 seconds). ?I was around for NASCAR?s 50th (anniversary) and I saw how much emphasis went into that, so I get an idea of how special it is.

?Ten years ago I was sitting in the Seagrave section (of the Speedway) watching the cars go by and sneaking into the garage area. Now to be here for the 50th, it?s definitely cool.?

Entering his seventh series season, Newman knows he has work to do. The 2002 NASCAR Sprint Cup Raybestos Rookie of the Year, he finished in the top 10 for four consecutive seasons before falling to 18th in 2006 and 13th in 2007.

The precedent is set: Penske Racing teammate Kurt Busch (No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge) returned to Chase participation in 2007 after a one-year absence and Newman knows McCauley will play a large role in his quest to return to title contention. McCauley, who began 2007 as Busch?s crew chief before leaving to attend to family matters, replaces Mike Nelson, who moved into a coveted management role at Penske.

McCauley and Newman already are familiar after combining for several NASCAR Nationwide Series wins for Penske.

?Roy is what we refer to as, ?on the chip,? ? Newman said. ?He?s up there at nine thousand the whole day and all the time. Not to say Mike Nelson or (former crew chief) Matt Borland never were, it?s just Roy stays there and he?s determined. He gets the job done, and that?s why I look forward to a great 2008 season with him. Roy is a great team leader.?

Newman and McCauley are unique for another reason; they?re both engineers ? McCauley a University of Maryland alumnus and Newman a Purdue University alumnus. When asked about engineering and NASCAR, Newman cited a comfort factor.

?I?m glad that I have my education and I?m glad there are so many engineers in the garage,? he said. ?For me, having the engineers on the team makes it easier to communicate and do all the things we have always talked about that make us a stronger team. We haven?t won a championship, so we have some work to do. I guess that is one of the things on my wish list.?

Well below a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series title would be the fish Newman has yet to catch. The hobby provides much-needed down time for him, and he didn?t hesitate Tuesday afternoon ? towing his father, Greg, team fabricator Dave Munari and Jason Shapiro, the car chief for Tony Stewart?s No. 20 Home Depot Chevrolet, with him.

?I decided I?d stroll past the 20 car and ask Stewart how his day was going with my fishing rods in my hand,? Newman said. ?He just looked at me and goes, ?Where you going?? I said, ?Fishing ? we?re done for the day.? ?

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