Ryan Newman's pole-winning effort was relegated to also-ran status after a crash Friday. Credit: Autostock

Newman's Chase hopes falling to the wayside

FORT WORTH, Texas -- Unlike his qualifying attempt Friday, Ryan Newman kept his No. 12 Dodge off the wall in Sunday's Dickies 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. Unfortunately, it was his championship hopes that took the hit instead.

Newman finished 25th -- the last car on the lead lap -- which leaves him seventh in the standings, 174 points behind Tony Stewart, with two races remaining. Newman started the weekend tied with race winner Carl Edwards, 107 points behind Stewart.

Inside the Chase Standings after Texas Rank Driver Pts. Behind 1. T. Stewart 6,255 -- 2. J. Johnson 6,217 -38 3. C. Edwards 6,178 -77 4. G. Biffle 6,133 -122 5. M. Martin 6,132 -123 6. M. Kenseth 6,120 -135 7. R. Newman 6,081 -174 8. Ku. Busch 5,974 -281 9. R. Wallace 5,940 -315 10. J. Mayfield 5,848 -407 • Race Results, click here • Series Standings, click here Final lapsA pit decision by Edwards earns him a second consecutive win Small gainsJohnson talks about finishing ahead of Stewart Texas showdownCatch all the highlights from TMS with TrackPass Sign up for TrackPass now BUY YOUR NEXTEL DRIVER PHONE

"We took a good shot to the little toe [Sunday]," Newman said. "It was unfortunate, but we were the underdogs coming in. I don't think we're mathematically out of it, but things aren't looking good. We're looking forward to Phoenix."

Forced to his seldom-used backup -- a car that hadn't been in competition in four years -- and starting at the tail end of the field, Newman never was able to make the charge necessary to salvage his title hopes. A spin on Lap 244 while trying to keep from getting lapped only made the situation worse, as Newman spent much of the rest of the race among the leaders on the track but running deep in the field.

During the first 30-lap green flag segment, Newman gained 10 spots and appeared to be settling in. In fact, the No. 12 was posted in 19th place by Lap 96, but that was Newman's high-water mark for the evening.

"That qualifying deal really killed us, track position-wise," Newman said. "There were so many green flag runs we were never had to two-tire our way up to the front like we wanted to. We just struggled in dirty air."

From that point, Newman's troubles only grew exponentially. Fighting an ill-handling car in traffic, Newman slipped to 24th by Lap 225 and lapped by leader Casey Mears shortly thereafter. Newman attempted to work his way back around Mears, only to lose control coming through the tri-oval, skidding sideways through the infield grass and correcting the car once the tires returned to the pavement.

However, even though Newman was posted as the first car down a lap, he was unable to use the Lucky Dog, having caused the caution. He spent the rest of the race trying to accomplish that feat, running at the same pace as the leaders and finally passing Mark Martin with seven laps to go to get back on the same lap, one entire circuit in arrears.

"Once we got out front, we were the fastest car there at the end of the race," Newman said. "I knew I was taking the air off [Mears], but that's racing. I wanted my lap back.

"My car didn't touch any other car from my end of it all day, so I don't think anybody has any right to be mad at me."