As a Nascar fan you want to see your favorite driver wins races,poles and Championships. Other wise, why would you even watch Nascar ? We all know that winning races and Championships comes few are far between for many race teams if at all. That would explain the fan base of about 10 drivers being so big while other drivers or Teams are so little. I mean , how long could you support a field filler race team before you become bored and loose interest. If you can support a Team like that, you are a very dedicated Nascar fan of honor. Not many of those left these days. Don't you think most Americans want to be associated with a winner.......yes!
I had high expectations for Team #39 this year. Why? Because I know Ryan Newman can drive as good if not better than any other driver in the Cup Series. Plus, he had an experienced Crew Chief, pit crew and shop personnel and two owners. I think the new team comment is just an excuse for anything bad that went wrong. This is not a new team folks. The only thing new was Ryan's communication to Tony Gibson about car balance, shop location, car number,chassis and engine program and primary sponsor most important being the Crew Chief/driver communication. Gene Haas is not new to Nascar. Having Tony Stewart as his co-owner was new and Tony and Gene both tweaked the personnel at S/H racing before this racing season began.
The goal for Team #39 was to win poles,races and the Championship. I'm sure that's EVERY Teams goal but we all know who realistically has a shot at that!
Team #39's goals where not accomplished as far as wins and the Championship. Ryan's pit crew had many problems. That needs to be taken care of in the off season. Plus, Team #39 needs to work on car balance. This is not new news and is very obvious.
I was excited seeing all the success Tony was having(until the Chase)and thought Ryan would be just as good. Ryan's race Team was not even close to the 14 if you count race wins. As a long time Newman fan, seeing your favorite driver playing "second fiddle" in a two car race Team is very discouraging. This may not be true but as an emotional fan that's how one would see it. When Ryan came to Penske, he was treated very badly by super ego driver Rusty Wallace. He did NOTHING for Newman's racing career. His #2 race team shared zero information with Team#12. This was all well documented. Ryan struggled for way to many years at Penske with high turnover in Crew Chiefs, race cars(Taurus,Dodge Intrepid,Dodge Charger and the combo of Dodge front nose changes)hell it's no wonder with all the inconsistent changes he ran bad other than 2003(11-poles/8-wins). NOT DRIVERS FAULT! And, not including Ryan's many bad misfortunes on the track. Some drivers have a lot more misfortune than others at crucial times of a race season unlike Team #48!
In closing, it was a pretty good year all in all. I know Ryan will not settle for anything other than perfection going into the 2010 racing season. It will be his 9TH year in the Cup Series and he is way over due for a Championship and is very deserving I might add. There is no reason what so ever he can't win a Championship other than those "nasty unforeseen racing deals" that can occur. It's those "nasty unforeseen racing deals" that has hindered Ryan Newman since 2002. People try to convince me you make your own luck...oh, that means you are psychic and can foresee tire problems or know who is going to wreck you out of a race or pit crew mistakes or a mechanical/electrical failure or accidentally scrubbing a wall....PLEASE!:laugh:
Team 39's numbers ended up: 10 Top 10 finishes/5 Top 5's with 2 poles and no wins. Ninth is points of the Chase.
Good luck Team #39 in 2010!
