NASCAR Cup Series: 4 drivers nobody wants to go up against at Homestead
By Asher Fair
Ryan Newman
Roush Fenway Racing’s Ryan Newman was the 16th and final driver to qualify for the playoffs, doing so on the strength of his point total, which was just four points higher than that of 17th place Daniel Suarez of Stewart-Haas Racing.
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For him to advance even to the round of 12, he will need to perform at a level that he simply hasn’t attained this season with just one top six finish in 26 regular season races.
That said, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him advance, and it really wouldn’t be surprising to see him make a deep playoff run.
We saw in 2014 what he is willing to do to advance in the playoffs, and it nearly netted him a surprising championship; he finished in second place behind champion Kevin Harvick in the season finale as one of the Championship 4 drivers after entering the playoffs in a last place tie in the championship standings among the 16 playoff drivers.
Newman is known for being the toughest driver in the series to pass. Considering the circumstances of what happened between him and Matt DiBenedetto late in the regular season at Bristol Motor Speedway in a battle that wasn’t even for position, this aspect of his driving style is what netted him his berth in this year’s playoffs.
Put him in a position to win his first championship, and that element of being tough to race will increase exponentially, even from what it already is.
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Will any of the four drivers discussed in this article advance to the 2019 NASCAR Cup Series Championship 4 at Homestead-Miami Speedway in mid-November, and if so, will one of them be crowned champion?
Race one of the round of 16 is scheduled to take place this Sunday, September 15. This race, the South Point 400, is set to be broadcast live on NBC Sports Network from Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas, Nevada.