Updated Sep 18, 2009 7:10 PM ET
NEW YORK
Ryan Newman didn't mind the pre-Chase media blitz in Manhattan.
Following a three-year absence from a postseason title run since 2005, Newman will gladly take his medicine.
It was just before nine on Thursday morning when Newman appeared in the lobby of the London Hotel donning "a cowboy look" sans 10 gallon hat and big shiny buckle.
He was still gloating from putting one over on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon on Wednesday while playing a game named "shock absorber." Although Newman fell out of the contest early he was able to transfer the current back to the host before time ran out.
"I got his ass," Newman said with a grin.
Newman's PG-13 humor carried the tour through New York with snappy one-liners from the hotel to the first stop at WNYW, the FOX affiliate which is located on the Upper East Side. Newman and Greg Biffle had a stand-up on "Good Day NY," and the party had 20 minutes to spare before the 9:30 segment.
Newman jumped out of the SUV, took one look at the show car and blurted, "I'm surprised the chrome wheels haven't been stolen yet."
On the way into the building, Biffle held the door for Newman and offered, "Ladies first".
In typical "hurry up and wait fashion," the drivers sat patiently in the lobby while the news blared on the flat screen in the background. During the wait, the conversation turned to what would Newman be doing back on the farm at this hour? He looked at his watch and answered, "Feeding the deer."
Twenty minutes passed and after a bit of prodding from a NASCAR rep, the drivers returned outside with FOX 5's Brett Lawson. The typical lighthearted question and answer session ensued for what should be a 90-second hit. Lawson asks Biffle about getting out of the car and the driver answered, "When it's on fire, it's amazing how fast you can get out of the car."
Lawson joked about taking the show car for a ride. Shortly after, with a bit of prodding from Newman and Biffle, the window net was down and steering wheel off, and Lawson was climbing into the front seat. Biffle made it clear that throughout the course of 500 miles, "there is no air conditioning and no pit stops" for restroom breaks.
Suddenly, the engine roared. Even the most nonchalant New Yorkers could not ignore the blast that erupted from Sprint-inspired race car.
"Now get out and act like you won," Newman said.
"Celebrate," Biffle adds.
Lawson offered a weak fist pump and thanked the drivers.
"We must've done alright," Newman said. "We turned a 90-second segment into three-and-a-half minutes."
Newman was light-heartedly teasing the NASCAR rep who was dressed in a black ensemble. He tried the nickname Johnny Cash, which soon evolved to Tiffany Cash.
"Did I do good?" Newman piped up sarcastically from the back seat.
By 9:40, the chauffeur was making his way down side streets to the Sirius Studios on 6th Avenue as a light rain fell. Ironically, the Escalade passed the No. 16 Ladder Co. and the No. 39 Engine Co. one block down — the fire departments sharing the numbers of both Newman and Biffle.
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"What's our next thing?" Newman asked.
"Sirius," offered his public relations representative, Wendy Belk.
"No, seriously, what's next," Newman joked again.
Chatter turned to Denny Hamlin's shopping exploits on Wednesday. Hamlin later admitted to a four-hour adventure at Macy's with his mother.
"Denny was so jacked up about going shopping," Newman noted. "I'm like, 'Dude what's that about?"
Moments later the SUV passed a Lucky Brand Shop and Newman is called out by Belk on his jean preference.
The driver turned left past Central Park and Newman admired the green expanse to his right. He offered, "If the city looked more like that, it wouldn't be half bad."
Newman saw his first street vendor cart and started jonesing for a breakfast pretzel. As the cab raced up 6th Avenue, Newman joked, "the yellow light mean drive faster."
In traffic, Newman reflected a bit on his earlier success at New Hampshire Motor Speedway -- this weekend's kickoff race in the Chase. Four years have passed since his last Chase appearance and it's been 61 races since his last Cup win.
However, the Magic Mile has lived up to its name — at least where Newman is concerned. From his first career win from the pole in 2002 and his second victory at NHMS in the first race of the 2005 Chase, his average finish of 14.2 is a reflection of an average starting position of 7.6 — the best on the tour.
"For whatever reason, we've won at New Hampshire when I haven't won in the past," Newman said. "My rookie season, we had been so close — so many top fives — and then New Hampshire in the fall. Then in 2005, another winless streak, and we win that first Chase race. We beat Tony Stewart — I think five laps after that end pass.
"If we could repeat that day and finish one-two, that would be an awesome way to start the Chase. But New Hamphire has been a good track for me on Friday and Sundays."
While Newman's NHMS record is certainly a confidence booster, he admits that there are 11 other drivers that are equally confident entering that Chase.
"Confidence helps," Newman added. "It doesn't put you in Victory Lane."
At 10:15, the SUV pulled up to Sirius' headquarters at the corner of 6th Avenue and 49th Street. Pretzels carts on either end of the block were still calling Newman, but satellite radio awaited -- four channels in one stop.
In Studio 13, Newman easily breezed through a segment called the "Chase for the Comedy Cup" on Blue Collar Radio, not failing to mention his favorite comedian, Larry the Cable Guy.
Between hits, Steve Cohen, Sirius senior vice president of sports programming, stopped Newman to thank him for taking time with his son at Dover.
By 10:30, Newman joined Bruce Marray and Bill Pidto for Mad Dog Sports in Studio 4. Newman expresses his disbelief of a city ordinance that fines drivers for honking a horn.
"We don't have horns, so we just hit the person," Newman said. "It's called the chrome horn ... but we've had our hands slapped (by NASCAR) for hitting people and causing cautions".
Throughout the course of his media duties, the driver didn't miss the opportunity to promote his cause -- animal welfare -- through the Ryan Newman Foundation. "All of our funding goes directly to the animals," Newman said. And he reiterated his message of adopting shelter pets and having animals spayed and neutered.
Newman returned to Studio 13 at 10:50 for a "Road Dog" segment for truckers then 10 minutes later changes gears for his fourth show -- the ABCs of Sports for parents and coaches with Scott Lancaster. Newman talked about his own upbringing through the ranks of motorsports, using video games for training and working as a team. His message to the kids, 'NASCAR will humble you.'
At 11:20, Newman rewarded himself for his hard work with a pretzel. Then it was back in the SUV and a quick interview on the phone before a throng of rapid-fire media hits at the Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square.
Newman signed autographs for fans waiting at the side entrance of the restaurant. He was whisked to a green room in the back where Garrett's popcorn, sandwiches and beverages awaited -- along with Mark Martin, Greg Biffle, Dale Jarrett and Carl Edwards. Newman tackled the caramel corn and then signed photos of the 12 Chase drivers for NASCAR.
Just after noon, Newman was escorted to a question and answer session with Stewart, Jarrett and Biffle -- and over 100 fans -- in the New York Room. Jarrett moderated the inquiries from a variety of outlets.
When Stewart was asked by a fan about the benefit Newman brings to Stewart Haas Racing, he replied, "Having a great teammate but also having a good friend away from the track.
"A critical part of the equation is having teammate that you not only appreciate on the race track and at the shop but we have common interests away from the track. That helps us be better teammates and communicate better.
"We've been able to put together a group of people that enjoy working together that has the same passion and drive. Our No. 1 goal this year was to have fun. One of the things I remember in our early conversations is Ryan saying, 'I want to have fun racing again.' We tried to make it simple this year — make it fun again — and I think that's where our success is coming from."
After 30 minutes of fan questions, Newman met with local and national TV affiliates at the "Red Carpet Station."
Newman found sanctuary in the Green Room where he polished his shtick on Hamlin.
"Do you know the square root of 69?"
Hamlin checked his cell phone for a calculator application.
With more popcorn landing on the floor than in her mouth, Newman decides to change focus and orders a lunch of salmon and mashed potatoes before finishing availabilities with print media and radio.
Newman crossed the hall to cut promotional voice-over liners for Talladega, Texas and Charlotte. Afterward, he squeezed in a lunch of salmon and mashed potatoes before finishing with print media and radio.
Newman told the press he's not completely surprised that it's taken this long to return to the top 12. In the years leading up to his departure from Penske Racing, Newman lacked the necessary consistency to secure a position in the postseason.
At Stewart Haas Racing, Newman has found great pleasure in not only outrunning many of his competitors but also the satisfaction in working as a team.
"In the past, we've had good, fast race cars and zero reliability," Newman said. "Look at my situation right now. I've had zero DNFs this year. You go back to the last couple of years and I've had a quite a few DNFs and barely missed the Chase.
"I think we're off 13 laps (not completed) for the entire season and Stewart's off like four or five. We've done a really good job of mechanically making sure our cars are sound and we have to have that for the next 10 races."
Waiting for Newman at the end of his media responsibilities was Krissie, his wife and partner, who was ranked fifth on the NASCAR Most Beautiful list. Newman beamed upon her arrival. The couple embraced, shared a kiss and compared notes from the day on the way to the Green Room.
Newman was grateful for the day to be over so he could return to focusing on racing. With the strides SHR has made lately -- particularly with the intermediate- and short-track programs -- Newman is "happy to be in the position" the team is in entering the Chase and the opportunity to run for the Sprint Cup.
"Your momentum can be taken away for the first lap at Loudon," Newman said. "It was good that we were in a position that we were points racing and watching what was going on around us. There were teams -- Tony, Jeff (Gordon), Jimmie (Johnson), Denny -- that were in a position that didn't have to worry about points.
"Based on the people we have working in the shop, we have the tools and the capabilities of making it. We have the same chassis and same engines that won the last three championships -- so you can take that out of the equation. The rest is about people."
