Photo: Chris Owens/ASP, Inc.

Ryan Newman Announces Departure from RCR after 2018 Season

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer

After five seasons that included a Championship 4 berth, Ryan Newman announced Saturday that he’ll part ways from Richard Childress Racing at the end of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season, vacating the No. 31 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1.

Newman confirmed his future on Twitter, describing his tenure at RCR as an enjoyable experience and wishes them the best going forward.

“We were able to put competitive cars on the race track, qualify for the playoffs on multiple occasions and make a strong run for the championship, and I’m very proud of what we were able to accomplish,” said Newman.

“I haven nothing but respect for the organization and everyone involved, and I am thankful for having the opportunity to drive at RCR.”

Since departing from Stewart-Haas Racing to join Childress, Newman has made the playoffs three times, including coming up a spot shy of capturing his first championship at Homestead-Miami Speedway in 2014 — won by Kevin Harvick.

In 170 starts to date, Newman also snapped a 127-race winless streak at ISM Raceway in March 2017, which is his only win thus far and has scored 29 top-fives and 61 top-10s.

With the playoffs out of the picture after missing the cut by 58 points over Alex Bowman, Newman isn’t ready to announce his 2019 plans, but he intends of staying in Cup full-time.

“I’m not ready to announce my future plans at this time, but it is my full intention to compete in the NASCAR Cup Series full-time in 2019 and beyond,” said Newman.

“We are currently working through options for next season and hopefully we will be able to announce those plans in the very near future.”

Newman will start 22nd in Sunday’s South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, where he’s finished no worse than 17th in the No. 31 Chevy, and ended up third in 2015 for his best finish in 18 starts.

Tags : , , , , ,

From the Pacific Northwest, Luis is a University of Idaho graduate with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcasting and Digital Media and a three-time National Motorsports Press Association award winner in photography. Ever since watching the 2003 Daytona 500, being involved in auto racing is all he's ever dreamed of doing. Over the years, Luis has focused on writing, video and photography with ambitions of having his work recognized.