Ryan Newman

Ryan Newman returned to the Chase For The Sprint Cup for the second time in three years with Stewart-Haas Racing in 2011.

Newman scored his 15th career victory in 2011, winning at New Hampshire, and finished 10th in the final points standings.

Newman joined Stewart-Haas in 2009 after spending seven full seasons at Penske Racing.

A native of South Bend, Ind., Newman signed with Penske Racing after a successful career competing in USAC open-wheel cars. He moved to NASCAR in 2000 and ran eight Cup races in 2000-01 with a best finish of second at Kansas Speedway.

In 2002, Newman won one race, finished sixth in the final standings and beat Jimmie Johnson for the Cup rookie of the year title.

The following year, Newman took the series by storm, winning a series’ best eight races and 11 poles, earning the nickname “Rocketman” for his qualifying prowess. He finished sixth in the final standings.

In 2004, Newman won two races, nine poles and made the inaugural Chase, finishing seventh in the final standings.

Newman, who has an engineering degree from Purdue University, added one more victory in 2005 before struggling and going winless through the next two seasons.

In 2008, Newman returned to victory lane and scored the biggest victory of his career when Penske teammate Kurt Busch pushed him to the win in the season-opening Daytona 500.

Newman had just one more top-five finish in 2008, however, and finished 17th in the final standings, prompting his move in ’09 to Stewart-Haas.

An avid fisherman, Newman and his wife Krissie operate the Ryan Newman Foundation for pet welfare and nature conservation.