After starting on the pole for the 50th running of the Coca-Cola 600, Ryan Newman added to the Memorial Day weekend success with a second place finish in the rain-shortened event.

On lap 222 the caution flag was waved due to rain. Sitting 15th at the time of the caution, Newman and the No. 39 U.S. Army team faced a difficult decision to stay on the track or head into the pits. After a quick discussion with his crew chief Newman made the gamble to stay on the track, a decision that paid off in the long run.

"I asked if the rain was going to stay and the answer was that it might," said Newman. "I said we can't chicken out now and I stayed out. In the end it was the right thing to do. It's just strategy -- sometimes you get lucky and sometimes you don't. If the race did go back to green, we would have been in the back."

Newman’s verdict catapulted him to second place. Shortly after the caution NASCAR decided to end the event prematurely, giving Newman his fourth consecutive top-5 finish. The last time Newman assembled four straight top-5s was at the same time of the season in 2005.

The driver of the No. 39 Chevrolet has engaged in a full on assault as of late collecting an average finish of 3.25, and moving up to seventh in the series point standings. 184 points away from point leader Jeff Gordon and 140 points away from his teammate and boss Tony Stewart, Newman asserts that the team just needs to keep marching if they intend to reach their destination.

"We just need to keep doing what we've been doing and we'll get what we're after -- and that's a win," said Newman.

"This was a special race to drive the Army car on Memorial Day weekend.” Newman continued, "This is a weekend about remembrance for our men and women who served our country and for all the troops who are currently protecting our freedom. I was touched to see all the military personnel line up on the straightaway during the pre-race introductions. I am very honored to drive the Army car."

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