It was almost by accident that Ryan Newman returned to the NASCAR Cup Series.
It began with Newman sending a text message to Tommy Baldwin, who owns the Tommy Baldwin Racing modified team and serves as competition director for Rick Ware Racing.
Newman was seeking a modified ride.
“He asked me if I wanted to go to Martinsville and I said, ‘In a modified?’ And he goes, ‘No, in a Cup car,’” Newman recalled. “And it all worked out for us to put all this together and do this.”
The 18-time Cup Series winner has signed on with Rick Ware Racing to contest a limited schedule in NASCAR’s premier division. But as for what races he’ll be at besides this weekend’s Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway, Newman doesn’t have an answer yet.
“I told them when I did it. I said, ‘The only way I’m going to do this and continue to do this is if it’s fun,’” Newman said. After Saturday’s qualifying session, he added, “Today was fun, so we’ll see.”
The 45-year-old will start 26th in Sunday’s 36-car field, wheeling the No. 51 Ford Mustang. While Newman is firm that he’s here to be competitive and is anxious to move his way through the pack once the green flag waves, his overall measure for success is more neutral.
“I don’t come here expecting to win or lead the most laps or anything like that,” Newman said. “Realistically, I feel like today has been successful and I feel like if we can just progress from where we are today and our competitive level, then Sunday will hopefully take care of itself.”
As Newman has fought the uphill battle to return, one thing that’s required adjustment is the car itself.
Prior to practice at Darlington, the Cup Series veteran had never raced a Next Gen car. While he acknowledged the steering, transmission and shifting aspects are considerably different, the Rick Ware Racing driver feels he’s adapted well.
“The track is still my favorite, so that made it a lot easier. It’s easier to dance with a girl that knows how to dance,” Newman said.
Though he hasn’t made a start in the Cup Series since 2021 — when he drove the No. 6 Ford for Jack Roush — Newman believes he hasn’t lost touch with the competition.
“It’s not like I’ve just been out on the farm making hay,” Newman said. “I’ve paid attention to everything in respect to the car’s development, driver’s comments, safety, roll bars and crashes and data and things like that.”
Even in retirement, the 2008 Daytona 500 winner admitted he’d never fully closed the door on NASCAR. Sure, he’s kept busy racing stock cars with the Superstar Racing Experience and making laps in Tour-type modifieds, but Newman’s also kept an eye on the Cup Series.
“I always said if the opportunity came and it was right, then I would do that. This is an opportunity, especially with this car that’s somewhat equalized the field and the competition,” Newman said. “Today is a starting point. I don’t know where the ending point is, but we’ll take it one step at a time.”