NASCAR: Ryan Newman to drive for Roush Fenway Racing in 2019

Ryan Newman is set to leave Richard Childress Racing and drive for Roush Fenway Racing in the 2019 NASCAR Cup Series season.

Ryan Newman, who is currently in his fifth NASCAR Cup Series season driving the #31 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, is set to leave Richard Childress Racing following the conclusion of the 2018 season. He is set to move to Roush Fenway Racing as the driver of the #6 Ford.

The #6 Ford was driven full-time by Trevor Bayne in the first 11 races of the season, but Bayne and Matt Kenseth have been splitting time behind the wheel of the car ever since. Newman is set to become the teammate to Ricky Stenhouse Jr., who drives the #17 Ford.

Here is what the 40-year-old South Bend, Indiana native had to say about the opportunity to drive for Roush Fenway Racing in the 2019 season, according to ESPN.

"“They’re willing to listen and make the right decisions collectively [to get better]. Everybody puts that effort forward, it’s just a matter of how well you do it…Jack Roush and Roush Fenway Racing has proven to be a staple from a car and engine standpoint and I don’t see any of that changing. That’s why it was an easy decision.”"

Here is what Roush Fenway Racing team owner Jack Roush had to say about the team signing Newman, according to ESPN.

"“Ryan Newman has been one of the most fierce drivers that we’ve faced on the race track.”"

Here is what Roush Fenway Racing team president Steve Newmark had to say about the matter, according to ESPN.

"“We were approached from a number of drivers, but for us the clear-cut favorite was Ryan. We are really good that when he looked at his options, he decided this was the right match. At this point where we look at where we are…we just felt like Ryan was the right person to come in and perform immediately.”"

Newman’s full-time career as a Cup Series driver began in the 2002 season. He drove for Team Penske from the 2002 season through the 2008 season and earned 13 victories over the course of those seven seasons.

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In the 2009 season, Newman began driving for Stewart-Haas Racing. He drove for the team from the 2009 season through the 2013 season and earned four victories over the course of those five seasons.

Newman has been driving for Richard Childress Racing since the 2014 season. While he has only earned one victory, his victory in the March race at ISM Raceway last season, in his five seasons driving for the team, he finished in a career-high second place in the championship standings in the 2014 season. He finished in second in the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway behind champion Kevin Harvick. Had he won the race, he would have been crowned champion.

Over the course of his Cup Series career, Newman has competed in 612 races. In those 612 races, he has earned 18 victories, 112 top five finishes, 246 top 10 finishes and 51 pole positions. In his 17 seasons as a full-time driver, he has racked up six top nine finishes in the championship standings.

How will Ryan Newman perform in his first season driving for Roush Fenway Racing next year? Who will replace him as the driver of the #31 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet in the 2019 NASCAR Cup Series season?