Ryan Newman, driver of the #39 US Army sponsored Chevy in NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series, won the pole for Sunday's Coca Cola 600 race.
Ryan, nicknamed the Rocket Man for his numerous pole wins over his years in NASCAR, averaged 188.48mph around the mile and a half track at Charlotte NC in Thursday evening's qualifying session.
The Coke 600 is NASCAR's longest race - 400 laps, equalling 600 miles. Think of that - 4 to 5 hours of driving around in circles at better than 185mph.
Ryan, in support of his sponsor, the US Army, will host Sgt. Joseph Goodloe, a Green Beret whose seven tours in Iraq and Afghanistan resulted in four bronze stars, and a bronze star with V device (for Valor). Sgt. Goodloe is currently an instructor at Ft. Bragg, and a resident of Charlotte.
Folks, if you have never been to a NASCAR race, you need to go at least once. If you can't stand to be there for the entire race, I suggest going for qualifying day. In any case, you simply cannot believe how fast these big machines really go, and you won't believe something going that fast can actually turn around a corner. TV does not do it justice ....
Army Strong.
Ryan finished second in yesterday's rain shortened, rain delayed Coke 300 and something. Overcoming an early pit road penalty, Ryan and his crew chief pulled some strategy out of their hats as the yellow flag came out for the third time, indicating rain. After a lengthy red flag for the rain and drying efforts, NASCAR finally called the race. The finish vaulted Ryan into 7th place in the points race, quite a change fromt eh dismal start of their season.
1 comment:
I am not a true NASCAR fan, but am around enough people who are. They've been to Daytona, Dover, Bristol, the place in PA -- and then every time they bring back pictures they say the same thing, "See, in this picture is . . . but really you should SEE it. You need to go and see it."
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