Newman Says Busch Isn't A 'Rusty' Teammate

(Originally published on Feb. 20, 2008)

The relationship thing is going pretty well for Ryan Newman these days. Most NASCAR wives are nowhere to be found when their beaus make their way to a New York press junket. Not that there's anything wrong with that.



But there was Krissie Newman at the Waldorf-Astoria having lunch at Ryan's left Tuesday; you quickly got the impression that the pair wouldn't even think about spending too much of the celebratory tour for his Daytona 500 victory apart. Krissie made it clear-albeit in a playful way-that she wasn't fixing a plate for Ryan at the buffet. Ryan quipped, "Enjoy dessert" at his wife before heading off for a barrage of one-on-one interviews. You can often tell through tones and subtle gestures when a couple truly loves each other and when they're going through the motions. I wouldn't worry about the Newman clan anytime soon.



"I'd say that no matter who you are, there are always going to be bumps in life with relationships, whether it's your significant other, your best friend, or your dog. And Krissie's done a great job supporting me," said Ryan of Krissie, who despite a New Jersey upbringing has developed a slight drawl since experiencing life in Tar Heel Country. "She came into our relationship as a total non-racer. She's a hockey fan. And I think I've got her turned over to racing pretty good now."



For years, Newman tried in vain to find similar bliss with a partner on the racetrack. Happiness certainly didn't come with former Penske teammate Rusty Wallace. Their pairing was chilly enough to keep a whole semi full of Wallace's underwriter, Miller Lite, ready for chugging in perpetuity.



Newman had to believe things would go better in 2006 with Wallace retired. But at the season-opening Daytona 500, he felt he was let down by somebody else he should have had an allegiance with: Casey Mears, who was still driving a Ganassi Dodge at the time, played ball in the draft with eventual winner Jimmie Johnson when the chips were down.



"[Casey] basically let friendship override the teammate part of it within the Dodge camp," Newman said. "That was tough to swallow at the time. It was my chance, it was so close and you never know if you're going to have that opportunity again."



After much disappointment with supposed allies, there is irony in the fact that he got the greatest win in his career thanks to somebody, in this case Kurt Busch, finally having his back.



"I've obviously [experienced] the worst and the best as far as teammates go," Newman said. "I know that I wasn't the greatest teammate to Rusty Wallace, and I especially know that he wasn't the greatest to me. But as a whole, Kurt has been great all the way through, both on and off the racetrack. Yeah, he's had to fight some battles, as we all do. But he's always been there to help, and I'm grateful for the push he gave me on the back straightaway."



Finding that chemistry doesn't necessarily mean bringing together similar personalities. Seeing life the same way at 200 mph is more important. Newman is quick to note that he's a very different person than Busch, but added, "When it comes to sitting in the racecar, doing the job that we have to do, even Roger Penske will tell you, we're one in the same."



When you lose that comfort with someone on the track, it's very hard to rekindle. Even to this day in talking about his relationship with Wallace, Newman noted, "I mean, us racecar drivers, we're competitive, and we don't forget the things that we don't like. [The relationship is] OK, I can have a conversation with Rusty, but we won't ever go do dinner soon."



As a nugget to keep an eye on as the season progresses, Newman may not have sufficient comfort with Kurt's brother, Kyle, considering his comments about the younger bro's racing at Daytona.

"He doesn't hold a steady wheel, but in saying that I didn't see him turn anybody around," Newman said of his teammate's brother. "And I didn't see him cause anybody to get turned around. Every driver has a steering wheel and pedals, and they can do with them what they want up to the point where they're risking other people, and I didn't see him do that."

He later added, though, "Kyle Busch I felt would have blocked me or potentially caused an accident, and Tony [Stewart] I think drove like a racer."

Now, that's nothing new. Kyle Busch has had to stay away from the Kurt Busch-Stewart feud, pitting brother versus teammate. If Kyle and Newman have any issues, Kurt will need to be equally diplomatic.

The only thing that really matters is what Newman said about the final laps: "The way Kurt Busch treated me was the most honorable way anyone has treated me on the racetrack."

For Newman, who has been looking for a mate as special as Krissie for years, he may have finally found his match.