What Are the Possible Destinations for Ryan Newman After His Roush Fenway Exit?

Published 07/27/2021, 1:18 PM EDT

A couple of weeks ago, Brad Keselowski announced his recruitment to Roush Fenway Racing in one of the worst-kept secrets. Of course, this also means that Ryan Newman is left without a 2022 Cup Series drive. With a handful of races still left, the NASCAR veteran will use this time for an impromptu audition for a drive next year.

The 43-year-old has insisted that he still wants to compete next year. To this day, he still harbors dreams of winning his first Cup Series championship. Admittedly, he has reached Victory Lane at the likes of Daytona and Indianapolis. For now, he is simply content with trying to hunt for a seat. The good news is that there are teams who are willing to recruit veteran racers.

This season, Ryan Newman has performed decently, equalling his Top 10 tally from last year. In addition to that, he also boasts of a Top 5 finish at the Bristol Motor Speedway dirt race. However, he has hit a rough patch in the last few races, finishing well outside the Top 20.

Article continues below this ad

Where can Ryan Newman go in the 2022 Cup Series season?

Article continues below this ad

Newman could entertain the likes of Richard Petty Motorsports, as Erik Jones’s contract has an opt-out clause. Furthermore, if Front Row Motorsports decide not to renew Anthony Alfredo’s contract, Newman could move there. In other words, a berth in a chartered team could guarantee him a full-time schedule.

On the other end of the scale, he could opt for a part-time schedule, though he will have to sacrifice his title hopes. However, it could allow him to rack up the wins. If he still wants to stick around at Roush Fenway, there is an option to field a three-car team. The presence of a veteran driver of Newman’s caliber will be hugely beneficial when trying to adjust to the Next Gen car.

Article continues below this ad

Of course, Ryan Newman is not getting any younger, so a part-time season could be on the cards. It also does not help matters that many teams are looking towards younger drivers. Regardless, he will be hoping to race on for a little while longer before entertaining the retirement option.

Ryan Newman Dismisses Talk of Retirement and Aims for “Lifelong Dream” of NASCAR Cup Title

SHARE THIS ARTICLE :

Written by:

Dhruv George is a senior Formula One and NASCAR analyst for EssentiallySports, having authored nearly 12000 articles spanning different sports like F1, NASCAR, Tennis, NFL, and eSports. He graduated with a PG Diploma in Journalism from the Xavier Institute of Communications. Dhruv has also conducted interviews with F1 driver Pierre Gasly and Moto2 rider Tony Arbolino.