Ryan Newman started at the front of the 43-car field and finished just ahead of his team owner, Tony Stewart, at the checkered flag as he piloted the No. 39 U.S. Army Chevrolet to its first victory of the 2011 season at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The strong day by the Stewart-Haas Racing team garnered the No. 39 team four post-race contingency awards, while the No. 14 Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet of Stewart captured an additional award.
Newman started the weekend by capturing his 47th career Coors Light Pole Award in a track qualifying record lap of 28.165 seconds.
In a race highlighted by close racing and strategic pit and fuel strategy, Newman’s crew remained where they needed to be throughout the race and provided the No. 39 with its first win of the season and NASCAR with its 13th different winner in 2011. Newman led 119 total laps including the final 71 laps.
“We had a lot to work towards for our first victory,” said Newman after the race. “But for us to get the U.S. Army in Victory Lane, that was a goal we had way before the season ever started, for the soldiers, our sponsors, our team, our organization.”
Crew chief Tony Gibson captured his first DIRECTV Crew Chief of the Race Award of the season for demonstrating the best qualifying and race effort based on finishing positions during the weekend.
Speaking about the team’s strategy, Gibson said, “Our strategy was to stay up front, keep Ryan in clean air. We knew if we could do that we had a shot to win. We gave up track position middle of the race to put four on. We had to do whatever we had to do to keep our track position.
“He did an awesome job of saving fuel. I never believed we were going to make it. We were definitely a solid two to three laps short from making it. I was hounding him on the radio. I’m sure he got tired of hearing it. He did an awesome job.”
Hendrick Engines captured the MAHLE Clevite Engine Builder of the Race Award for its support of the Stewart-Haas Racing driver by providing consistent power based on qualifying and finishing position.
Newman also captured the Mobil 1 Driver of the Race for his victory.
Finally, Stewart and the No. 14 team captured the Goodyear Gatorback Belts Fastest Lap Award for recording the fastest lap while leading the race. Stewart took the Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet through lap nine at 129.051 miles per hour to add to the Stewart-Haas Racing team’s post-race recognition.
The awards are part of the NASCAR Prize Money and Decal Program, also referred to as the contingency program, which provides teams prize money and weekly awards based on performance in several categories.
Carl Edwards regained the series points lead by seven over five-time Champion Jimmie Johnson, who gained three spots this week. Following an off weekend, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule resumes with the Brickyard 400 presented by Big Machine Records.com on Sunday, July 31.
Official winners of this week’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Prize Money & Decal Program special awards include:
v AMERICAN ETHANOL GREEN FLAG RESTART: Jeff Gordon
v COORS LIGHT POLE AWARD: Ryan Newman (135.232 mph. 28.165 secs.)
v DIRECTV CREW CHIEF OF THE RACE AWARD: Tony Gibson (crew chief for Ryan Newman)
v GOODYEAR GATORBACK BELTS FASTEST LAP AWARD: Tony Stewart (129.051 mph, Lap 9)
v MAHLE CLEVITE ENGINE BUILDER OF THE RACE AWARD: Hendrick Engines, No. 39
v MOBIL 1 OIL DRIVER OF THE RACE AWARD: Ryan Newman
v MOOG CHASSIS PARTS PROBLEM SOLVER OF THE RACE AWARD: Todd Parrott, 0.011 secs (crew chief for Marcos Ambrose)
v O’REILLY AUTO PARTS POSITION IMPROVEMENT AWARD: Bobby Labonte (16 places)
v SUNOCO ROOKIE OF THE YEAR AWARD: Andy Lally
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