Ryan Newman earns highest finish since return

Ryan Newman’s 12th-place finish Wednesday (June 10) in the Blue Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway was his highest finish in the No. 6 Ford since his return to the driver’s seat last month and highest since a Top-10 in the season-opening Daytona 500.

Sporting the Koch Industries colors like his Daytona 500 ride, Newman ran as high as eighth place, ultimately finishing outside the Top-10 on the lead lap.

Some of the Roush Fenway Racing driver’s finishes since NASCAR’s return from the two-month COVID-19 hiatus include a pair each of 14th-place and 15th-place finishes.

Through the first 11 races of the Cup Series season, Newman has led 20 laps, posted one Top-10 finish and sits 24th in driver’s standings. He is 81 points behind the playoff cutline entering the Sunday, June 14, race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Newman missed three races after sustaining injuries in a last-lap crash in the Daytona 500. Ross Chastain filled in for Newman at Las Vegas, Fontana and Phoenix.

Newman’s last win in NASCAR’s elite series came at Phoenix Raceway in March of 2017.