After completing an exhausting animal aid and rescue mission along the Gulf Coast last week, Krissie Newman had one word to describe the destruction. “Surreal would be the best way,” said the wife of Nextel Cup driver Ryan Newman. “You can see the pictures and watch it on TV, but you don’t get the true feel of it unless you’re standing there looking at it.” Touring the region devastated by Hurricane Katrina became an eye-opening experience for two groups from the NASCAR community last week. With a 43-foot truckload of pet food donated by Purina in tow, Krissie and three other representatives of the Ryan Newman Foundation left in a Tom Johnson RV for Gulfport, Miss., at 7 a.m. Monday and didn’t return until 3 a.m. Friday.(read full story at the Richmond Times Dispatch)(10-4-2005)
