Engine change for Newman

Ryan Newman, driver of the #39 Quicken Loans Chevrolet, climbs into his car in the garage area during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on October 12, 2012 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images for NASCAR)
Ryan Newman, driver of the #39 Quicken Loans Chevrolet, climbs into his car in the garage area during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on October 12, 2012 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images for NASCAR)

CONCORD, N.C.—Early in Friday’s second practice session, Ryan Newman reported that his No. 39 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet was “blowing up.” The team subsequently confirmed that Newman’s car would require an engine change.

The crew began work immediately in the Cup garage, but the engine change consumed the final 50 minutes of practice, and Newman got no laps on the new engine. On top of that, Newman will lose his third-place starting spot because of the engine change and will start Saturday night’s race from the rear of the field.

“We started off in Happy Hour to a long run, and we got about six laps into it, and it started tightening up,” said Tony Gibson, Newman’s crew chief. “So he shut it off and came in, and there is definitely something big wrong.

“It’s too bad when you’ve got the track position, but that’s part of it, and we’ll get after it.”

Kyle Busch led final practice at 188.383 mph, followed by Regan Smith, subbing for Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the No. 88 Chevrolet.

Greg Engle
About Greg Engle 7421 Articles
Greg is a published award winning sportswriter who spent 23 years combined active and active reserve military service, much of that in and around the Special Operations community. Greg is the author of "The Nuts and Bolts of NASCAR: The Definitive Viewers' Guide to Big-Time Stock Car Auto Racing" and has been published in major publications across the country including the Los Angeles Times, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was also a contributor to Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Soul, published in 2010, and the Christmas edition in 2016. He wrote as the NASCAR, Formula 1, Auto Reviews and National Veterans Affairs Examiner for Examiner.com and has appeared on Fox News. He holds a BS degree in communications, a Masters degree in psychology and is currently a PhD candidate majoring in psychology. He is currently the weekend Motorsports Editor for Autoweek.