NASCAR | Busch Series

CONCORD, N.C. -- Ryan Newman set a NASCAR record by winning his fifth consecutive Busch Series race Friday night, avoiding a track-record 14 cautions en route to the victory at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Newman, who has only entered seven Busch races this season, came into the event tied with Sam Ard for the series record for consecutive wins. Ard won four-straight in 1983 and Newman beat him by winning the past five events he's run. "Just happy to be running as good as we are and I look forward to doing it again," Newman said.
He was the driver to beat the entire race, leading 133 of the 200 laps and avoiding any of the problems that led to the numerous accidents and blown tires.
Newman was the leader when Kevin Harvick blew a tire and hit the wall late in the race to bring out the 13th caution. The race restarted with nine laps to go, and Newman had to fend off fellow Cup driver Tony Stewart. As Stewart tried to make a pass for the lead after the restart, he lost control of his car and spun into the wall. As his disabled car came down the track, it was hit by several others and was briefly lifted off the ground when David Stremme drove into him. Stewart, the Nextel Cup points leader, was slow to get out of the car but waved to the crowd as he walked toward the ambulance for the obligatory trip to the care center. "That stung a little bit," Stewart said. That accident brought out the second red-flag race stoppage of the night. It lasted just over 10 minutes and Newman had to defend his lead on the restart with three laps left.
Elliott Sadler never made a pass attempt and Newman easily beat him to the finish line. Sadler was second, followed by Paul Menard, Carl Edwards and Jason Leffler.
Associated Press