Ryan Newman, driver of the No. 12 Kodak Dodge Charger, possessed a fast car for Friday night’s Diamond Hill Plywood 200 at Darlington Raceway, but instead of running in the front for most of the race, Newman had to fight his way back from the rear of the field.
Newman had earned a spot in the top 10 by lap nine and he told his crew his car was “pretty good”.
“I can get loose into turn three, but that’s about it, ” Newman said.
By the time the first of 10 caution flags had waved on lap 23, Newman had made his way into sixth and he was really happy with his car. However, crew chief Matt Gimbel called for four tires, fuel and a half round of wedge in the left rear on the first pit stop to loosen the car in anticipation of the track tightening up as the night progressed. The stop allowed Newman to gain one spot for the restart, leaving him in fifth when the green flag waved.
When Brent Sherman’s spin bought out another caution on lap 53, Newman was in fourth and did not want any adjustments to his car on his second stop of the night.
| 
|