Ryan Newman won the pole at the most recent race in Phoenix but blew an engine and finished 43rd.
CONTRACT UP SOON
Newman considering contract
By SceneDaily Staff
TALLADEGA, AL -- Ryan Newman’s contract with Penske Racing expires at the end of this season, but the driver said Friday that he has yet to speak with any other teams about driving somewhere else next season.
“I haven’t signed my contract yet, and we haven’t even really talked about it yet,” he said at Talladega Superspeedway. “There’s some options out there, obviously. ... I’m sitting happy in my seat right now, but that doesn’t mean I can’t be happy someplace else.”
Newman has only one top-five finish since winning the season-opening Daytona 500, and his team was assessed a 25-point penalty after a fourth-place result at Texas, all but negating the result.
He won the pole at the most recent race in Phoenix but blew an engine and finished 43rd. He sits 12th in points.
Newman has driven for Penske Racing since he began his Cup career in 2002. He has 13 career victories, but hasn’t made the Chase since 2005.
There’s certainly a possibility he could remain with Penske, but he acknowledged there are other options.
“I know that there’s other things out there,” he said. “I know that there’s other things besides retaining my position at Penske Racing.”
Newman acts as his own agent and said he plans to continue to do so during contract negotiations.
Carl Edwards, Greg Biffle and Martin Truex Jr. are among the other notable drivers whose contracts expire at the end of this season.
Posted April 25, 2008 , 7:00 pm EST Last Updated April 25, 2008 , 7:25 pm EST
