Fox Scores as Ryan Newman Wins Daytona 500
Ryan Newman's victory at Sunday's Daytona 500 was a ratings winner for Fox. No doubt helped by the rush of publicity for
Dale Earnhardt Jr. - and his presence at the front of the pack late in the race - the telecast drew 17.75 million viewers.
The competitive nature of the race was clearly a big draw. The lead changed hands 42 times with 16 different drivers in front at some point during the race (the second highest in race history).
Newman, a graduate of Purdue University joked that his education may have played a part in his victory: "I can't sit here and say I won the Daytona 500 because I'm a vehicle structural engineer, but I'd say it definitely helped." Most of all, he was grateful to his teammate
Kurt Busch for giving him a last-lap tap that helped Newman edge past
Tony Stewart. "Kurt was the push from heaven that made it all happen," Newman said. "I have to thank Kurt first and foremost."
Busch finished second, Stewart was third, while Earnhardt was ninth and two-time defending Cup champion
Jimmie Johnson wound up way back in 27th.
