NASCAR: 3 possible landing spots for Ryan Newman in 2022

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Ryan Newman, Roush Fenway Racing, NASCAR (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /

Possible Ryan Newman landing spots for 2022: No. 3 – Retirement

Could the last lap of the Championship 4 race at Phoenix Raceway this November be the ride off into the sunset for Ryan Newman?

As of this moment, most likely only he knows.

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As previously mentioned, Newman is slated to turn 44 years old before the 2022 season starts, and while there’s no true retirement age in NASCAR like we generally see in other sports, there is definitely a youth movement happening within as we speak.

The Hendrick Motorsports youth movement alone has been talked about for quite some time now, but it’s widening outside of the 13-time championship-winning team. Austin Cindric is set to move up to the Cup Series, taking over from Brad Keselowski behind the wheel of the #2 Ford at Team Penske, and Harrison Burton is set to drive the #21 Ford at Wood Brothers Racing as the replacement for Matt DiBenedetto.

Additionally, GMS Racing are set to debut in the Cup Series next year, running a part-time schedule. It’s doubtful that Newman would be on the list of drivers they have in mind, as they already field a Truck Series program and have spent time in Xfinity Series in the past. Promoting current or past GMS drivers and/or developing young talent might be in their best interest.

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If the youth movement continues to take off and if Newman can’t find the ride he wants for 2022, he could find himself on the brink of retirement in the Cup Series. Part-time Xfinity Series or Truck Series rides could be options, or even a ride in NASCAR’s Whelen Modified Tour, a series in which he has previously been successful. But after a horrific crash in 2020 and a forgetful season in 2021, it could time to hang up the firesuit.

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