Races [18+2] that Quicken Loans is scheduled to be the primary sponsor in 2013:
Daytona, Sprint Unlimited - 2/16
Daytona, Budweiser Duel - 2/21
Daytona 500 - 2/24
Phoenix - 3/3
Las Vegas - 3/10
Martinsville - 4/7
Texas - 4/13
Darlington - 5/11
Charlotte - 5/26
Michigan - 6/16
Kentucky - 6/29
Indianapolis - 7/28
Michigan - 8/18
Bristol - 8/24
Richmond - 9/7
Chicago - 9/15
New Hampshire - 9/22
Charlotte - 10/12
Phoenix - 11/10
Homestead - 11/17

Races [3] that WIX Filters is scheduled to be the primary sponsor in 2013:
Auto Club - 3/24
New Hampshire - 7/14
Talladega - 10/20

Race [3] that Outback Steakhouse is scheduled to be the primary sponsor in 2013:
Richmond - 4/27
Daytona - 7/6
Texas - 11/3

Races [2] that Aspen Dental is scheduled to be the primary sponsor in 2013:
Charlotte, All-Star - 5/18
Watkins Glen - 8/11

Races [2] that Code 3 Associates is scheduled to be the primary sponsor in 2013:
Kansas - 4/21
Kansas - 10/6

Races [1] that State Water Heaters is scheduled to be the primary sponsor in 2013:
Martinsville - 10/27

Races [8] that the team is looking for a primary sponsor (Haas Automation) in 2013:
Bristiol - 3/17
Talladega - 5/5
Dover - 6/2
Pocono - 6/9
Sonoma - 6/23
Pocono - 8/4
Atlanta - 9/1
Dover - 9/29

Contract Status: Driver: 2013; Primary Sponsors: 2013 (Quicken Loans, Wix, Outback Steakhouse, Aspen Dentel, Code 3 Assoc)

Quicken Loans returns to the #39 at MIS: Quicken Loans, the nation's largest online retail mortgage lender, adorns the #39 Chevy that Ryan Newman this weekend at Michigan in addition to its status as the entitlement sponsor of the 400-mile race. A victory in the Quicken Loans 400 would be the perfect scenario as the 2-mile, D-shaped Michigan oval is located approximately 70 miles from the sponsor's headquarters in the heart of Detroit's business district. It also would serve to rekindle Newman's winning ways and keep his Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship hopes alive via the wild-card opportunity  two of which are awarded to a race winner outside the top-10 in points but among the top-20 (SHR), see images of the car/scheme on the #39 Team Schemes page.(6-11-2013)

Zipadelli says Cars to Blame: Greg Zipadelli, the competition director at Stewart-Haas Racing and longtime confidante of Tony Stewart, said the team has fallen behind on technology relative to the top NASCAR Sprint Cup teams. Zipadelli said the combination of adding a third car for Danica Patrick, converting to the new Generation-6 cars and shuffling personnel internally has left SHR well behind top teams like Joe Gibbs Racing and Hendrick Motorsports so far this season. Coming into Sunday's Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, #39-Ryan Newman is 17th in points, #14-Stewart 21st and #10-Patrick 28th. Thursday night, Newman qualified 10th for the Coca-Cola 600, with Patrick 24th and Stewart 25th.(full story at SPEED)(5-25-2013)

No crew chief changes for Stewart Haas Racing: Despite a dismal season to date, there are no crew chief changes planned at Stewart-Haas Racing [#10-Patrick, #14-Stewart & #39-Newman], a high-ranking team official told SPEED.com Monday morning. "We've all won races together and championships together, we're going to pull ourselves out of this together," the team official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity. After Saturday night's Sprint All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, team co-owner Tony Stewart spent nearly two hours in the team hauler, meeting with crew chief Steve Addington and team engineers to work on solving the team's handling issues. "Every team goes through this at one point or another. We'll get through it," the SHR team person said.(SPEED)(5-21-2013)

SHR extends partnership with Atlas Copco Compressors: Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) has extended its partnership with Atlas Copco Compressors, and the Rock Hill, S.C.-based company will also serve as an associate sponsor of the #39 Quicken Loans Chevrolet SS of driver Ryan Newman during the Oct. 10-12 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Atlas Copco Compressors has served as SHR's official compressed air supplier since the team's inception in 2009. As part of this continued relationship, Atlas Copco Compressors is installing its new SmartLink technology into SHR's headquarters in Kannapolis, providing 24/7 remote monitoring of the team's compressed air system to ensure continuous uptime and peak performance. This year marks Atlas Copco's 140th anniversary, and when Atlas Copco Compressors serves as an associate sponsor of Newman's #39 Quicken Loans Chevrolet at Charlotte in October, one lucky Atlas Copco employee will have their name printed on the side of Newman's car.(SHR)(5-17-2013)

State Water Heaters Partners with Stewart-Haas Racing: State Water Heaters, a leading manufacturer of commercial and residential water heaters, has joined Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR), the title-winning NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team co-owned by three-time Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart. Effective immediately, State Water Heaters will be an associate sponsor of the #14 Bass Pro Shops/Mobil 1 Chevy driven by Stewart and the #39 Quicken Loans Chevy driven by teammate Ryan Newman. Additionally, State Water Heaters will serve as the primary sponsor of Newman and the #39 team during the Goody's Fast Relief 500 Sprint Cup race weekend Oct. 25-27 at Martinsville Speedway.
"The State Water Heaters brand has a rich history in the plumbing industry, and over that time we've developed strong partnerships with our wholesalers and contractors. We're thrilled to join SHR where we're able to share the excitement of this program with our customers," said Jeff Storie, senior marketing manager, State Water Heaters. "We've recently launched some great new water heaters, as well as a new Find a Local Installer tool on our Website. We look forward to working with Ryan, Tony and the rest of the SHR team to raise awareness among the legions of NASCAR fans about State brand products and our loyal contractors."
For more than 60 years, State Water Heaters has stood for durability. Tested under the toughest conditions in the most hostile environments, State Water Heaters builds long-lasting products that provide years of service. Motorsports also provides tough conditions and hostile environments, making State Water Heaters' presence in NASCAR a natural fit. The Ashland City, Tenn.-based company has sponsored NASCAR teams since 2006, and it enters a new era by partnering with SHR.
"We're very proud to welcome State Water Heaters into the Stewart-Haas Racing family," said Stewart, who co-owns SHR with Gene Haas, founder of Haas Automation, the largest CNC machine tool builder in the western world. "State Water Heaters is an innovative company that prides itself on quality and customer service. Just as they deliver for their customers, we plan to deliver for them  on the track and off. It's a strong brand that through its partnership with our race team will become even stronger."(SHR)(5-16-2013)

Aspen Dental makes it 2013 debut on the #39: Ryan Newman and the #39 Stewart Haas Racing team will have Aspen Dental as the primary sponsor for the NASCAR Sprint All-Star race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Tina Johnson is the latest Aspen Dental patient to be included on the rear quarter-panel of Newman's #39 Chevy. Continuing on a program that started in 2012, Johnson, a patient of the Aspen Dental office in Waukesha, Wis., was selected to have her photo featured on the #39 Chevrolet based on comments she provided regarding her dental treatment on the Aspen Dental Facebook page. Not only will she be along for the ride this weekend, she'll spend the next three Sprint Cup races riding along with Newman, as well (SHR), see an image of the car on the #39 Team Schemes page.(5-15-2013)

Newman's comments after Talladega under review by NASCAR UPDATES: NASCAR will likely review comments made by Stewart-Haas Racing driver #39-Ryan Newman following a Lap 183 crash in Sunday's rain-marred Sprint Cup race at Talladega Superspeedway. Any potential fine that could come from the comments likely would be made on Tuesday or Wednesday, per NASCAR's history. Earlier, it was reported that NASCAR would definitely review his comments, but a spokesperson clarified that there are a variety of things that will be reviewed over the course of a race weekend. Newman finished 32nd after the crash in which Kurt Busch's #78 car barrel-rolled and landed upside down on the hood of the #39 car Newman had in position for a top-10 finish or win with five laps left in regulation as darkness approached. NASCAR fined #11-Denny Hamlin $25,000 earlier this year for perceived negative comments about the new "Gen 6" car and the quality of racing at Phoenix International Raceway.(ESPN)(5-7-2013)
UPDATE: NASCAR said Tuesday that Ryan Newman will not be fined for his rebuke of NASCAR on live television following a late accident at Talladega. Newman's race ended Sunday in a 12-car accident when Kurt Busch's car barrel-rolled on top of his car. Newman said his TV interview was solely to complain that NASCAR had made plenty of safety advances but still couldn't figure out how to keep cars on the track. He used a vulgarity in his interview. Not fining Newman is consistent with NASCAR chairman Brian France's decision to give drivers' permission to criticize anything but the cars and the on-track product. Denny Hamlin was fined $25,000 in March for saying he didn't think NASCAR's new car races as well as the old car.(Associated Press/ESPN)(5-8-2013)
UPDATE 2: NASCAR stated Tuesday that Newman would not face any penalties but spokesperson Kerry Tharp explained NASCAR's position Wednesday and defended its actions. "We did tell them they could challenge NASCAR, they could challenge the racing calls, certain calls that we made and that type of thing," Tharp said of guidelines to drivers. "We did tell them a couple of years back, hey, don't take on the racing product, don't disparage the racing. We believe (Newman) kind of pushed the edge on that in his comments. We disagree with his opinion. We disagree with the comments he made but he wasn't critical of the racing, he wasn't critical of the racing product, so therein lies the decision not to fine him. We don't agree with what he said, I'll tell you that right now." (Motor Racing Network)(5-8-2013)

Outback making first appearance on the #39: For Ryan Newman, Richmond couldn't come soon enough. Needing a breakout performance to quiet skeptics who have written off the SHR teams as contenders in 2013, there's no better place to prove them wrong. With Outback Steakhouse making the first of three 2013 appearances as primary sponsor of Newman's #39 Chevy this weekend at Richmond, memories of last year's spring race at Martinsville Speedway evoke memories of that fateful day. Newman scored his only win of the 2012 season at the other Virginia venue, and did so with the Tampa, Fla.-based steakhouse across the hood of his racecar. Outback Steakhouse has been celebrating Newman's top-10 finishes since last season with a free Bloomin' Onion for its customers on Mondays. Come Saturday night, Newman would like nothing more than to relive last year's April success at Martinsville - by scoring his first "Bloomin'" win of the 2013 season at Richmond.(SHR), see an image of the car on the #39 team paint schemes page.(Stewart Haas)(4-25-2013)

Code 3 Associates Joins SHR at Kansas: #39-Ryan Newman will run the Code 3 Associates scheme at Kansas Speedway. Code 3 Associates is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization specializing in animal rescue and recovery in disaster areas. The sponsorship was made possible by a benefactor with interests in animal-related causes. Formed in 1985, Colorado-based Code 3 Associates is a national response team that, at the request of local government officials, provides animal rescue and recovery in times of disaster. The organization has evolved from one unpaid volunteer to at roughly 75 professional responders around the country, which include animal welfare, law enforcement, fire, EMS and veterinary specialists from the United States and Canada.(SHR), see an image of the car on the #39 Team Schemes page.(4-18-2013)

Free food & movie Monday: Two drivers finished in the top ten in the Daytona 500, meaning free food:
Get a FREE Bloomin' Onion with any purchase all Bloomin' Monday long at Outback Steakhouse! Why? Because #39-Ryan Newman says so. (by placing in the top 10 today). Just say "Bloomin' Monday" on 2/25.
With #36-J.J. Yeley's 10th place in the Daytona 500, Yeley's sponsor Golden Corral: "JJ's Mondays" - Kids Eat Free on Feb 25, 2013: -Free kids buffet with an adult buffet purchase at regular price; -Limit of two (2) free kids meals per adult buffet purchased.
and Blockbuster is offering fans a Free 99¢ Movie Rental.(2-25-2013)

Newman discusses drafting accident in Wednesday's practice: #39-Ryan Newman crashed during first practice run; will repair the car - not going to back-up.
Q) WHAT HAPPENED OUT THERE?
Newman: "I don't know. I want to watch first (after watching the replay). My car came around. I don't know if it was the air off of Carl's (Edwards) car or what. My car just came around. (Referring to the replay) You can see the backend getting light there. I think it's just an aero situation, but that was news to me. Carl (Edwards) came over and said 'hey man'& I said 'I don't even know what to tell you yet'. It was unfortunate for our Quicken Loans Chevrolet, but that is why we had practice. That was my first experience, but I guess my car just got light in the back going into the corner."
Q) HOW BADLY WOUNDED IS YOUR CAR?
Newman: "I think it's totally fixable, it's just a matter of time and getting practice and everything else. Matt (Borland, crew chief) and the guys are assessing the situation."
Q) CARL (EDWARDS) CAME OVER IMMEDIATELY TO TALK TO YOU. WHAT DID YOU GUYS TALK ABOUT?
Newman: "Just what happened. I didn't know what happened and he honestly admitted that he didn't know what happened. Just all of a sudden my car was going across his nose. He did say that he tried to come up and put the air brakes on me. I think in doing so it just made my car that loose. I hadn't been loose the entire time. It was just something new and a different characteristic of this car I guess."
Q) YOU HAVE NOT FELT THAT SIMILAR SITUATION WHY IS THAT DIFFERENT? A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT A WEIRD AERO DEAL THERE?
Newman: "I think some of it has to do with the huge shark fin that we have on that side. When you pack air up on that side it's not going to the spoiler it's getting blocked off from the spoiler. There are a lot of things to think about and talk about."
Q) YOU GUYS ARE PLANNING TO FIX THE DAMAGE RIGHT?
Newman: "We are going to fix it. It's a Catch-22 we brought this car for a reason. The engine is fine; it never spun backwards all that stuff is good. We don't think we will make it back out for the second practice, but we will be fine."
Q) EVEN IF YOU DID WOULD YOU PRACTICE DRAFTING OR DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DONE?
Newman: "No, we will still practice drafting. That is what it is going to take to win the (Daytona) 500."(Team Chevy)(2-20-2013)

Borland and Newman back together': The dynamic duo of driver #39-Ryan Newman and crew chief Matt Borland were reunited last fall for the final four races of the 2012 Sprint Cup season. The pairing of the engineering majors  Newman a graduate of Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind., and Borland a graduate of the General Motors Institute of Technology in Flint, Mich.  for a second time seemingly picked up right it left off in 2006, earning four top-12 finishes in four races, including two top-fives. Newman and Borland's success in multiple series from 2000 to 2006 includes:
Ř ARCA: four wins, three poles, four top-fives and five top-10s
Ř NASCAR Nationwide Series: one win, six poles, two top-fives and eight top-10s
Ř NASCAR Sprint Cup Series: 12 victories, 37 poles, 52 top-fives and 83 top-10s.
Newman and Borland's Stats at Daytona  In 10 point-paying Sprint Cup races at Daytona from 2002 to 2006, Newman and Borland combined for two top-10 finishes  seventh in February 2002 and third in February 2006. The pairing also clinched a victory at Daytona's famous high banks in the ARCA Series in February 2001.(SHR)(2-19-2013)

Bloomin' Monday is Back when Newman earns top-10 finish: After its inaugural season with Stewart-Haas Racing in 2012 that saw Outback Steakhouse deliver over 100,000 free Bloomin' Onions® to race fans, Bloomin' MondayTM is back for 2013. Every time Ryan "Bloomin' "Newman finishes in the top-10 of a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, fans can get a free Bloomin' Onion at Outback Steakhouse on the Monday immediately following the race. Fans simply need to reference the promotion to their server to receive their Bloomin' Onion. Newman scored 15 top-10 finishes in 2012 (including the non-points NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race). The race is on for a free Bloomin' Onion beginning with the season-opening Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. "I'm happy that Outback Steakhouse is continuing the Bloomin' Monday promotion for the 2013 season," said Newman, driver of the #39 Outback Steakhouse Chevrolet SS for Stewart-Haas Racing. "It was cool that the fans could get something from our team having a good finish. It gave them another reason to cheer us on.cBelieve me, I heard from fans who were disappointed when we didn't get top-10s. We had 15 top-10 finishes last year, a number we're planning to beat in 2013, which will make for a lot of happy Bloomin' Onion fans."ccOutback Steakhouse will be the primary sponsor of Newman and the #39 team for three races in 2013  at Richmond in April, Daytona in July and Texas in November. When not serving as a primary sponsor, Outback Steakhouse will be an associate sponsor with placement on the B-post of the #39 Chevy. "The launch of our Bloomin' Monday promotion in 2012 fueled results beyond what we had hoped," said Mike Kappitt, chief marketing officer, Outback Steakhouse. "Outback is looking forward to this 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup season and cheering Ryan on to many more top-10 finishes." Offer valid with any purchase. One per table. Offer subject to change. Prices and participation may vary.(SHR/True Speed Communication)(2-15-2013)

Newman focusing on 2013; looking toward 2014: #39-Ryan Newman knows he doesn't have a contract for 2014. He wishes that wasn't the case, but he knows how to handle it. After all, it was at this time last year when he also was a free agent. He eventually signed a one-year deal to stay at Stewart-Haas Racing. "I have no extra pressure on myself to perform than at any other time in my career," Newman said. "I just don't have the things done on paperwork to say what I'm doing in 2014, which doesn't the change the way I drive this year." Like many veterans in other sports, Newman faces the prospect of getting squeezed out as teams look for younger, and possibly cheaper, options. Newman said he took a cut in salary, like many drivers have as sponsorship dollars have been tougher to find. SHR already has three drivers signed for 2014 with team owner Tony Stewart, Danica Patrick and, reportedly, Kevin Harvick. Stewart hasn't ruled out going to a four-car operation in 2014, and that would leave the door open for Newman to return. "Where I end up, that's where I end up," Newman said. "If I stay, I stay. If I don't, I don't. I have to do what's best for me." He will spend this season trying to win races and hope those sponsors stick behind him so he has a place to drive in 2014.(Sporting News)(2-4-2013)

Stewart-Haas adding test team: Stewart-Haas Racing is developing a new test team. Veteran crew chief David Hyder will oversee the project. "I'm planning on taking the wheels off of my pit box for a while," Hyder said Friday. "With the new car coming this season, they'd been talking about putting a test team together. I'm not sure what all it will entail yet, but Zippy (Stewart-Haas Racing Director of Competition Greg Zipadelli) told me to plan on going to Daytona." In the advent of the Generation 6 car, NASCAR's top organizations are doing whatever it takes to get up to speed quickly. Although SHR has a research and development group, the test team is the latest response to up the ante. Considering that SHR is expanding its two-car operation of Tony Stewart and Ryan Newman to add rookie Danica Patrick, the timing is perfect. Hyder started working at SHR on Tuesday. He most recently guided Cale Conley in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East but missed the competition at the Cup level. Hyder had previously worked as a crew chief for Wood Brothers Racing, Michael Waltrip Racing and Kevin Harvick Inc.(Fox Sports)(2-2-2013)

2013 silly season notes for #39-Ryan Newman / Stewart Haas Racing: Newman loses the U.S. Army sponsorship in 2013, which was good for about 18 races. Quicken Loans picks up the slack, upping their sponsorship total to 18. The team also has sponsorship from: Wix Filters (3 races), Outback Steakhouse (3 races), Aspen Dental (2 races) and Code 3 Associates (both Kansas races). That leaves nine races the #39 is unsponsored, Haas Automation could take over those races. Crew Chief Tony Gibson moved over to the #10 SHR Chevy to be Danica Patrick's crew chief late in the 2012 season. Matt Borland, SHR's vice president of competition for SHR, took over as the crew chief last October. Borland served as Newman's crew chief for five years when the two were together at Penske Racing (2002-2006), earning 12 wins. Newman is currently working on a one-year contract for 2013 with uncertainly on his return in 2014. With Danica Patrick running full-time in 20-13 and the foreseeable future and with Kevin Harvick coming aboard SHR in 2014, Newman could be left out of a ride. But Stewart has said, that from day one of starting Stewart Haas Racing, the plans were to grow to a four car team. So if sponsor ship is there and Newman willing, he could return in 2014. Penske was interested in bringing Newman back to Penske in 2013 but didn't have sponsorship and would be interested in Newman for the 2014 season. See images of the Wix Filters scheme on my #39 Team Schemes page. See more about other teams on my 2013 Team / Driver Silly Season Chart.(1-26-2013)

Stewart Haas Racing Notes from the NASCAR Sprint Media Tour: #10-Danica Patrick will not be using #14-Tony Stewart's owners points to start the year. Stewart said, "I worked hard for my points" and believes Patrick will be fine. The #10 team finished the 2012 season 33rd in owners points but been told those owners points will be used for Tommy Baldwin's #7 team with driver Dave Blaney. Baldwin will use the #36 owners points for his 2nd team, car #36 [unknwon driver/plans]. So the #10 car goes into the season with no owners points and Partick will have to make the races via speed. There is no top-35 or guaranteed spots in 2013, but owners points will used for 6 cars each race for provisional starting spots 37th thru 42nd and poosibly the 43rd spot.
Patrick has not finalized a deal to run any Nationwide Series races in 2013 but is hoping to do a 10 race deal with Turner Scott Motorsports.
As for Stewart running the 2013 Indy 500 for Penske Racing, he has open invitation for Indy 500 from Roger Penske, but has no plans to do so in 2013.
On the sponsor front for SHR the #14 has nine races open without a primary, the #39 of Ryan Newman has 8-9 races open for a primary sponsor and #10-Patrick has three racesopen for a primary sponsor.
Stewart said the Eldora Speedway Truck Race that will run on the dirt, is close to a sellout, with 16,000 reserved seats sold and about 600 left with 1000 general admission going on sale this week.(1-21-2013)

Newman wins NMPA Spirit Award: Members of the National Motorsports Press Association have selected NASCAR Sprint Cup driver #39-Ryan Newman as the fourth quarter winner of the NMPA Speedway Motorsports Spirit Award. The award is designed to recognize character and achievement in the face of adversity, sportsmanship and contributions to motorsports. Each year, quarterly winners are selected, and an overall winner is determined by a vote of the National Motorsports Press Association membership. Newman was recognized for hosting the 8th Annual Charity Dinner and Auction and annual fishing tournament in December, raising funds for animal welfare, education and conservation efforts. The evening featured entertainment from Nashville singer/songwriters and NASCAR drivers and raised more than $340,000. Newman helped raise awareness of a memorial fund after crewman Andy Rueger lost his son in an ATV accident on Nov. 22. Clint Bowyer, Andy Hillenburg and Brad Keselowski are also quarterly winners this year. The 2012 winner will be announced on Jan. 20.(NMPA)(12-20-2012)

Newman Foundation Raises Over $340,000 at Annual Charity Events: The 8th Annual Ryan Newman Foundation Charity Dinner and Auction and 7th Annual Charity Fishing Tournament raised over $340,000 for its animal welfare, education and conservation efforts. The dinner, presented by the Gene Haas Foundation, was held at the Statesville Civic Center in Statesville, North Carolina on Friday, December 7th. Local ABC affiliate WSOC News Anchor Blair Miller emceed the evening's festivities. Two of country music's talented singer/song writers provided the evening's entertainment. Tim Dugger and Grammy Nominee Eric Paslay took to the stage in front of the sold out crowd of 520 sponsors, NASCAR drivers, professional anglers and fans.
Guests had the opportunity to bid on silent auction items and participate in the "Fishing for Fun" Raffle. The big items included a John Deere Gator and a Polaris Sportsman 500 ATV along with many once in a lifetime race weekend and country music industry experiences. Returning this year were hand-painted dog/cat bowls and treat jars painted by the employees of the Ryan Newman Foundation and Ryan Newman Motorsports. Money raised from the pottery auction will be used to help vaccinate and sterilize dogs and cats in the surrounding area.
The event had a country winter theme and was managed by JHE Productions of Harrisburg, NC. New additions included an outside Presenting Sponsor VIP tent fit for a Kim Kardashian herself. The area provided plush white couches and glass tables with all the right touches for guests to relax and mingle with Ryan and Krissie before the doors opened to the public.
A mammoth ice sculpture was the feature attraction hosting a dog, cat, fish and deer circling the Foundation logo and was surrounded by a large candy bar that was transformed into a dessert bar after dinner. Guests also walked the red carpet and took photos with Ryan and Krissie and the photo booths were a crowd favorite for the second year in a row.
Bass Pro Shops and Bassmaster presented the charity fishing tournament hosting 148 teams, all competing for a Nitro Z9 Bass Boat equipped with a motor, trolling motor, electronics and matching trailer. Lake levels were extremely low, but the anglers unloaded and took to the water from Blythe Landing on Lake Norman in Huntersville, NC. Four-time Bassmaster Champion and seven-time Angler of the Year Kevin VanDam and Bassmaster Elite Series emcee and Outdoor Channel host Mark Zona were the tournament emcees for the second year in a row. The two kept the participants and the crowd on their feet while the anglers weighed-in. Kevin even signed autographs for fans prior to weigh-in at the Bass Pro Shops display.
This year's tournament winners were Travis Rulle from Huntersville, NC and his father Don Rulle from Longmont, CO. They weighed in five fish for a total weight of 16 pounds and 4 ounces. "Krissie and I appreciate everyone who participates in the fishing tournament," said Ryan Newman. "The weather was perfect or as Kevin said, we had Chamber of Commerce Weather. The 70 degree day didn't make the fishing any better though. December is tough and normally our tournament takes anywhere from 11  16 pounds to win and that's what we got with Travis and his dad. It declined rapidly after that. I am glad Kevin and Mark were able to make it back this year because I think the angers and fans watching enjoy their banter back and forth on stage with the fishermen."
Second place trophies were taken home by Cliff Kirby from Catawba, NC and Rick Dunstan from Pinehurst, NC weighing in five fish at 12 pounds, 12 ounces. Third place went to Shane LeHew from Charlotte, NC and Adam Yates from Denver, NC. They had five weighing in at 12 pounds, 7 ounces.
Outback Steakhouse, who is a primary sponsor on Ryan's #39 Stewart-Haas Chevy, hosted a rib and chicken dinner to over 400 anglers and fans. Sponsors of the event and local businesses were given the opportunity to meet with the public, sample products and give out information and items from their companies.
John Deere had their newest products on display, Oral B gave away bags of toothpaste and Kraft Foods sampled Oreo and Ritz products. Other venders included: Visit Lake Norman, Humane Society of Iredell County, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Silpada Jewelry, Parks Chevrolet, PhDs Woodworking and the Ryan Newman Foundation. Kids had their own area to play in with lots of free giveaways, games and inflatable's to enjoy while listening to live music provided by WAME Radio in Statesville. Over 1,000 people visited the boat ramp to show their support of the annual tournament.
While the anglers were on the water, Ryan hosted a luncheon cruise on a luxury yacht. This was a nice way for sponsors to see the beautiful scenery Lake Norman has to offer and view some of the teams attempting to reel that big one in. "I didn't know what to think of the yacht event, but it turned out to be a good thing for our sponsors," said Newman. "Fishing isn't like a golf tournament. It can be frustrating and you have to have patience, and most of all, be up at the crack of dawn which most people don't want to do after our event. It was a good way for them to have some one on one time with me and check out Lake Norman. It's something I think we'll do again next year."(Ryan Newman Foundation), see more and photos at ryannewmanfoundation.org.(12-15-2012)

WIX Filters, Outback Steakhouse, Aspen Dental & Code 3 Associates to sponsor Newman: Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) has signed extensions with four of its partners through 2013 that will account for a total of 10 races on the #39 Chevy driven by Ryan Newman in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. WIX Filters, Outback Steakhouse, Aspen Dental and Code 3 Associates will all return as primary sponsors of Newman and the #39 team in 2013, joining Quicken Loans, the nation's largest online mortgage lender. Quicken Loans announced in October that it will be the primary sponsor of Newman and the #39 team for 18 races in 2013, up from nine races in 2012.
· WIX Filters, a member of the Affinia Group family of brands, has been a partner of SHR since the team's inception in 2009, growing from a product supplier to a primary sponsor. In 2013, WIX Filters will be on the #39 Chevrolet for three races  March 24 at Auto Club Speedway, July 14 at New Hampshire and Oct. 20 at Talladega. "WIX is looking forward to another action-packed season of NASCAR with Stewart-Haas Racing," said Mike Harvey, brand manager for WIX Filters. "Our brand has a rich heritage as an advocate of racing and is a regular in victory lane at the highest levels in motorsports, and what we learn on the racetrack is applied directly to the technology we provide to our customers."
· Award-winning Outback Steakhouse, with more than 750 locations nationwide, will adorn the #39 Chevrolet for three races in 2013  April 27 at Richmond, July 6 at Daytona and Nov. 3 at Texas. And the company's well-received "Bloomin' Monday" promotion will continue in 2013, where after a top-10 finish by Newman, a free Bloomin' Onion at Outback Steakhouse is available to customers on the Monday immediately following the race. "We are excited to continue our partnership with Stewart-Haas Racing and Ryan Newman for 2013," said Mike Kappitt, chief marketing officer, Outback Steakhouse. "Bloomin' Monday is the perfect program to give fans two things they are passionate about  Bloomin' Onions® and NASCAR. We hope to give away thousands of Bloomin' Onions again this year when the No. 39 finishes in the top-10."
· Aspen Dental, one of the largest and fastest-growing networks of dental care providers in the United States, will serve as a two-race primary sponsor for Newman and the #39 team during the May 18 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race at Charlotte and the Aug. 11 road-course race at Watkins Glen. Watkins Glen will serve as a home race for Aspen Dental, as the company is based in nearby Syracuse, N.Y., and has more than 330 locations in 22 states. "We're very proud to continue our partnership with one of the most successful organizations in NASCAR," said Mary Boysman, vice president of brand marketing and advertising at Aspen Dental Management, Inc. "Like our partners at Stewart-Haas Racing, our team at Aspen Dental is driven by a strong commitment to quality, training and teamwork."
· Code 3 Associates, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization specializing in animal rescue and recovery in disaster areas, will be represented by Newman and the #39 team as a primary sponsor during the Sprint Cup Series' two stops at Kansas Speedway, April 21 and Oct. 6, respectively. The group's logo and slogan, "Riders On The Storm Animal Rescue Team" appear familiar to many in the Kansas market, as Code 3 Associates has been dispatched to numerous Midwestern areas in the aftermath of recent natural disasters. "We're thrilled to be back with Stewart-Haas Racing and Ryan Newman, who are recognized for their leadership and performance on and off the track," said Eric Bagdikian, president, Code 3 Associates. "Both drivers are generous supporters of animal rescue and welfare, with each of their foundations specializing in this cause. This initiative with Stewart-Haas Racing has greatly raised the profile of our collective mission, which is to provide animal rescue and recovery in the immediate aftermath of a disaster."
Stewart, who enters his fifth year as a NASCAR team owner in 2013 and 15th as a driver in the elite Sprint Cup Series, places a high value on each of these partnerships. "Obviously, we're very proud to have WIX Filters, Outback Steakhouse, Aspen Dental and Code 3 Associates back with our race team," said Stewart, the three-time Sprint Cup champion who will drive the No. 14 Bass Pro Shops/Mobil 1 Chevrolet throughout the 2013 Sprint Cup season. "We work really hard to deliver on the racetrack, but we work just as hard to understand each one of our sponsor's businesses so we can help them accomplish the goals they have, be it in racing or with their customers. It's great seeing these partnerships grow, and we look forward to another year of success with each of them."(SHR)(11-29-2012)

Son of Newman's crewman killed in ATV accident: info added: A Salisbury family is grieving after their 7-year-old son was killed in an ATV accident outside their home on Thursday. On Friday, family friends said the boy's father, Andy Rueger, is a crew member for NASCAR driver #39-Ryan Newman. They said 7-year-old Bryce Rueger used to ride around the yard all the time on the family's ATV, often with his father. They said he was familiar with the machine and that Rueger stressed safety with his children. Andy Rueger works as the gas man for Newman, and the NASCAR driver said Friday that they're working on setting up a memorial fund.(WWOC)(11-24-2012)
For services info and to sign a guest book, go to cavin-cook.com and to help the family, go to the Bryce Rueger Memorial Fund page.(11-25-2012)

A Final Thank You and Farewell to the U.S. Army: This weekend will mark the final race for the U.S. Army as sponsor of the #39 Chevy of Ryan Newman. The U.S. Army announced in July that it would not return to Stewart Haas Racing or the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for the 2013 season. The U.S. Army was the first partner announced for Newman's #39 entry when SHR was formed in 2009.(SHR)(11-16-2012)

Stewart comments on Harvick rumor: #14-Tony Stewart, met with members of the media at Phoenix International Raceway and discussed future plans for SHR, the transcript in part:
Q) DO YOU HAVE A RESPONSE TO THE STORY THAT KEVIN HARVICK WILL JOIN STEWART-HAAS RACING IN 2014?
Tony Stewart: "Well, it's actually Dale, Jr. (SMILES BROADLY). And Marty Smith (ESPN Television personality and website reporter) is actually going to be in the fourth car. Yes, that's where we are at. (SMILES BROADLY) I will tell you this, when we have something to tell you guys, we'll tell you. I've always said that. You guys can throw darts, but when we have something to tell you that's different than what we've got going on, we'll obviously tell you."(Team Chevy)(11-9-2012)

Harvick to leave RCR after 2013 and head to SHR: For each of his 12 seasons in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Kevin Harvick has driven for Richard Childress Racing. That will change in 2014. Multiple NASCAR industry sources confirmed to ESPN.com Friday that Harvick has signed a multiyear agreement to drive for Stewart-Haas Racing beginning with the 2014 season. Harvick will remain at RCR in the #29 Chevy for the 2013 campaign, sources said. "I'm looking forward to finishing out this season on a strong note with RCR and continuing to build our program going into the 2013 season with the ultimate goal of winning a championship," Harvick told ESPN.com Friday at Phoenix International Raceway, when he was asked about his future. "Anything beyond that, once I know what my future plans are set, I'll let you know." Under Stewart-Haas' current plan, sources said, Harvick will drive a fourth SHR Chevrolet, teaming with #14-Tony Stewart, #39-Ryan Newman and #10-Danica Patrick to form a four-car stable. "Stewart-Haas Racing's driver lineup is all set for 2013, but if you're talking about 2014 and if Kevin Harvick is available, that's something the team would have to look at," SHR team spokesman Mike Arning said. "Any team in this garage would do the same. From the moment Stewart-Haas Racing was formed, becoming a four-car team is something it's been striving for. They have the infrastructure to accommodate a fourth team, and if everything aligns properly, it's something they'll do. So, if a driver the caliber of Kevin Harvick is available, it's something they would pursue."(ESPN)(11-9-2012)

Stewart-Haas announces 2013 crew chief lineup: With an eye on 2013, Stewart-Haas Racing is restructuring its team lineup beginning with the Sprint Cup Series race weekend at Martinsville. Tony Gibson, currently the crew chief of the #39 U.S. Army/Quicken Loans team of driver Ryan Newman, will move to the #10 GoDaddy.com team of driver Danica Patrick. Gibson will get a jump start on the 2013 season by serving as Patrick's crew chief during her last two Sprint Cup races of the 2012 season - Nov. 4 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth and Nov. 11 at Phoenix International Raceway. Matt Borland, currently the vice president of competition for SHR, will add to his duties by returning to the role of crew chief when he takes over the #39 team beginning at Martinsville. Borland served as Newman's crew chief for five years when the two were together at Penske Racing (2002-2006), earning 12 wins and 37 poles. The 2013 structure of the #14 Bass Pro Shops/Mobil 1 team of driver/owner Tony Stewart and crew chief Steve Addington will remain unchanged from 2012.(Stewart-Haas Racing)(10-20-2012)

Sponsorship announcement for Stewart Haas: UPDATES: Stewart Haas Racing is expected to announce sponsorship for Ryan Newman Tuesday and likely will include existing nine-race sponsor Quicken Loans, according to those with knowledge of the announcement. Newman is losing the U.S. Army's 12-race sponsorship after this season. He re-signed with the team in early September even though it had not announced any sponsors for 2013. Stewart himself needs a sponsor to replace Office Depot and its 22 races for next season. Several sources indicated that SHR is talking with Bass Pro Shops and an announcement could come as early as late next week. Bass Pro Shops already is an associate sponsor of the organization and has been on the hood of Newman's car for a couple of races. A Bass Pro spokesman said last week the company had no comment on the speculation of the company sponsoring SHR.(Sporting News)(9-29-2012)
UPDATE: Quicken Loans, the nation's largest online mortgage lender, announced that it will double down on its partnership with Stewart-Haas Racing and Ryan Newman, driver of the #39 Chevy in the Sprint Cup Series. Through the new agreement, Quicken Loans will serve as Newman's primary sponsor for 18 Sprint Cup races in 2013, marking the majority of the season. When not the primary sponsor, the company will be an associate sponsor on Newman's Chevrolet. Additionally, Quicken Loans will remain as an associate sponsor on the #14 Mobil 1 Chevy driven by three-time and reigning Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart throughout the 2013 season. The company also announced details of its newly launched Skip-a-Year Sweepstakes, which will pay up to five entrants' mortgages for a full year. "We were not sure what to expect with the 2012 season being our first in the sport," said Jay Farner, President and Chief Marketing Officer for Quicken Loans. "What we quickly found was that NASCAR fans are tremendously passionate and loyal to the brands that help drive their sport. It was their commitment to our company that ultimately allowed us to significantly increase our involvement with the sport, Stewart-Haas Racing and Ryan Newman." In 2012, Quicken Loans is a primary sponsor for nine races with Newman and the #39 team, while also maintaining an associate sponsorship with Stewart.(Stewart-Haas Racing)(10-2-2012)
UPDATE 2: SHR also is working on a potential deal with Bass Pro Shops to replace some of the 22 races left open on Tony Stewart's car after Office Depot announced plans to leave the sport after this season. "It's a huge first step in filling in a couple of large voids,'' Stewart said of expanding the sponsorship of Quicken Loans. "Hopefully, that will have a domino effect. "We're really close to getting Ryan's races sold. We're still working on getting mine taken care of. We feel we have a couple of good leads that hopefully will get done before the end of the year.'' The good news for Newman is his car is almost fully sponsored, with Wix Filters, Outback Steakhouse and Aspen Dental expected to return. He said getting Quicken Loans on the car for 18 races gives him more confidence that his one-year deal for next season could become more long-term.(ESPN)(10-3-2012)

Newman's crew and crew chief to Danica? UPDATE: Danica Patrick will be in good hands when she runs her first full season in the Sprint Cup Series in 2013. Stewart Haas Racing is looking to support Patrick with the veteran crew (chief Tony Gibson and the squad) that currently services the #39 team and Ryan Newman. "That's what we're looking at," says Patrick's current Cup crew chief and SHR Competition Director Greg Zipadelli. "We sat down and talked with all the guys about it, and we just feel that they're a real solid group of people. They have great attitudes, pretty upbeat. We feel like that's the best thing to do is surround Danica with a really great group of people that don't normally make mistakes. They don't have issues. I look at them as generally, their glasses are always half-full. I think that's the best thing for her." Zipadelli has a short list of crew chiefs for Newman but considering that most are still under contract with other teams he elected not to comment.(Fox Sports)(9-29-2012)
UPDATE: They are a veteran group and Gibson's easygoing demeanor would work well with Patrick and the media spotlight. And Newman seems OK with the potential change. "I wouldn't say I would be upset," Newman said. "I think a lot of (Gibson) as a person. We've had success on the racetrack and we've struggled on the racetrack." Newman said if he could get his crew chief in before the end of the season, that would be beneficial but it would need to be most of the crew he'd be working with in 2013. That could be difficult as SHR needs to hire extra people for the addition of a car. "Nothing has been decided yet-we're just talking about different options and trying to evaluate how we can make our program better next year," team co-owner Tony Stewart said.(Sporting News)(10-2-2012)

Newman re-signs with Stewart Haas UPDATES Ryan Newman has agreed to a one-year contract extension with Stewart-Haas Racing. The extension will ensure Newman is the driver of SHR's #39 Chevy through the end of the 2013 season. Newman and SHR have been involved in negotiations for several weeks. An official announcement from the team could come as soon as this weekend.(Charlotte Observer)
UPDATE: Newman has agreed to a one-year deal to remain with the team, a Stewart-Haas Racing spokesman confirmed Thursday.(Sporting News)(9-6-2012)
UPDATE 2: Ryan Newman confirmed Thursday he has signed a contract extension with Stewart-Haas Racing for next season. Newman is in the final year of the deal he signed in 2009. The extension is a one-year agreement, and he said he took a cut in pay just as nearly every driver has of late. "I think in general everybody out there right now has taken a pay cut," Newman said. "No different than the cost of a seat in the grandstands is down. It all correlates." Newman said he isn't aware of any signed sponsors for next season on his #39 Chevy. "I feel fairly confident that we'll have good branding on the car," he said. "I can't sit here and say exactly who it is going to be and how it's going to lay out and what race they're going to be at. I can tell you this for sure - it's going to be multiple sponsorships."(Associated Press)(9-7-2012)

Stewart says he will have three teams in 2013: #14-Tony Stewart, driver of the #14-Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevy and owners of Steweart-Haas Racing (#14, #10-Patrick & #39-Newman) was the guest on the NASCAR Weekly Teleconference. Below is the transcript in part, dealing with the loss of the U.S. Army on the #39 Chevy of Ryan Newman and plans for 2013:
: Q. With U.S. Army now leaving a few weeks ago, where does that leave you as far as commitments with new sponsorship for your team next year?
Stewart: We're working on it, it's definitely still a setback but --
Q. Is it your hope to have three cars next year? Stewart: Yes, and it has been since we signed Danica.
Q. On the sponsorship deal, last year at this time it seemed like the environment was changing a little bit and maybe getting a little bit better and if you're still seeing that kind of thing and what it's like out there now in terms of what kinds of things you're having to do to get sponsors now that maybe you were or were not last year at this time.
Stewart: Well, I still think it's gaining momentum. We have been able to bring in Aspen Dental and Quicken Loans on board and those are two companies that had not been a part of NASCAR racing in the past. I'm pretty proud of that side of it. You know, it was definitely a huge disappointment that we were going to lose the U.S. Army. But it's not something that we have had a lot of at Stewart Haas Racing, we have not lost a lot of partners. And especially a group like U.S. Army, they have been a lot of fun to work with and they been a very dedicated group and have been very involved with what the race team is doing and very such pore at this point. We are going to miss out having them on board next year. But I still think it's coming around. There's a lot of new companies that we are seeing in the sport, and we are seeing that in our organization. So we are not giving up hope and throwing in the towel thinking that we are losing one sponsor; we are going to hopefully be able to try to find somebody else.(Team Chevy)(7-25-2012)

Army to leave NASCAR as sponsor after 2012 season: The U.S. Army has decided not to renew its sponsorship with Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) in 2013 as a primary sponsor of the #39 Chevy driven by Ryan Newman due to a reallocation of its marketing budget that will not include a presence in NASCAR. SHR is actively pursuing a strong brand to partner with the team and its roster of sponsors that also includes Office Depot, Mobil 1, Quicken Loans, GoDaddy.com, Haas Automation, Chevrolet, WIX Filters, Outback Steakhouse, Aspen Dental, Tornados, Coca-Cola, Oreo, Ritz, Bass Pro Shops and Code 3 Associates.
Brett Frood, Executive Vice President, Stewart-Haas Racing: "The U.S. Army has been a great partner of Stewart-Haas Racing since the team's inception. It has been a mutually beneficial relationship, with the U.S. Army introducing training regimens that improved our pit crews while instilling the mental, physical and emotional strength of the U.S. Army Soldier in all of us. We remain very proud of our representation of the U.S. Army and its brave Soldiers who are 100 percent committed to our country. We will continue to activate on behalf of the U.S. Army for the rest of 2012, while also growing our other dynamic partnerships at Stewart-Haas Racing for the future."
John Myers, Director, Marketing Support Element, Army Marketing and Research Group: "The U.S. Army has worked with Stewart-Haas Racing in a mutually beneficial and highly successful relationship for the past four seasons, and they've performed superbly as our partner on and off the track. The same can be said of other members of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series family we have sponsored during the past 10 seasons. The sport, our drivers and the passionate NASCAR fans embraced the Army's participation and created a tremendous opportunity for Americans to learn more about the profession of the Army Strong Soldier."(SHR)(7-10-2012)
U.S. Rep. McCollum Comments: U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum has won her two-year fight to get the Army to "stop wasting taxpayer dollars" on sponsoring a NASCAR racing team. The Army announced Tuesday that it would stop sponsoring the Stewart-Haas Racing team. The sponsorships were supposed to be a recruiting tool, but McCollum had argued it's an ineffective one. See McCollum's press release on the issue at the Pioneer Press and another at USA Today.
Army to return to NHRA Army officials are in the process of signing a contract extension with Don Schumacher Racing through 2013 to continue the long-running sponsorship of the Top Fuel dragster for seven-time NHRA champion Tony Schumacher. "That's our intent," said John Myers, director of marketing support for the Army Marketing and Research Group. "The NHRA is a valuable part of our motorsports outreach portfolio. We are working on an agreement through 2013. The NHRA gives us a great return on our investment."(ESPN)
AND U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum (D-Minn.) plans to meet today with National Guard officials "to discuss their backing" of the Hendrick Motorsports #88 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Chevy driven by Dale Earnhardt Jr.(in part from Sports Business Daily)(7-11-2012)

Newmans break ground on animal facility: #39-Ryan Newman and wife Krissie began discussing plans for an animal rescue facility in Iredell County a few years ago, and the first step in the process took place a couple of miles from their home in Statesville, NC. The facility is called "Rescue Ranch" and will lay on 87 acres off NC Highway 21 and has been a dream of Krissie's. The Ranch will have similarities to the Helen Woodward Animal Center in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. where a good friend Mike Arms is the President. The facility will have a number of phases; the first consisting of offices and classrooms. Future phases will consist of a boarding facility, veterinary clinic, horse stalls and pastures, riding trails, educational camps and a small animal and creepy/crawly building. The first phase of the project has been awarded to Mooresville based R.L. Smith, Inc. owned by Ronnie Smith. The projected completion date is early fall 2012. "My wife Lee and I [parents of Regan Smith] have been supporters of the Ryan Newman Foundation from the beginning," Smith noted. "We are huge animal lovers and honored to be part of Rescue Ranch and the building of phase one. The facility is something that I believe our county will be proud of and I commend Ryan and Krissie for their efforts."(Ryan Newman Foundation)(1-31-2012)