Newman changes engine

Ryan Newman

Richard Childress Racing has changed the engine in Ryan Newman’s #31 Caterpillar Chevrolet. By our understanding of the rules, the engine change means Newman will start Thursday's Budweiser Duel race at the rear of the field. Newman is also ineligible to win pole position for The Great American Race in today's Coors Light Daytona 500 pole qualifying.

However, Newman will still participate in today's knockout qualifying session, as his qualifying time will still count towards his grid position. Keep in mind, Daytona 500 positions 33-36 are awarded to the 4 fastest qualifiers who do not secure positions 1 and 2 in knockout qualifying or positions 3-32, by virtue of finishing top-15 in their respective duels.

Newman does have the luxury of being 'locked in' to the Daytona 500 field. Positions 37-42 are filled by top finishers in entrant points from 2014, and the #31 RCR finished second in the 2014 entrant standings.

AR1 Staff Report