Newman has staged solid top-10 finishes and an amply appreciable 8.5 finishing median in the initial two Chase races, but feels his U.S. Army/Haas Automation team needs to raise the bar a couple notches in the final eight NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events.

“Consistency is good, but it looks like it’s going to take consistency with a stronger finishing average than we’ve had in the first two Chase races,” said Newman, sitting seventh in Chase standings, trailing the points leader Mark Martin by 110 points.  “As I said after the Dover race, this is a brutally tough competition and you’re going to need top fives and wins to claim the championship.  We have to continue to be mentally and emotionally tough just like our Army Strong Soldiers.”

Newman, with five consistently top 10 finishes is hoping to polish on his past efforts in Sunday’s third Chase race, The Price Chopper 400, on Kansas’s 1.5 mile, 15 degrees banked tri-oval, Speedway.

Ryan Newman already has one victory and three top five finishes including two runner ups at Kansas since 2001.

“It would be nice to start our top-five or better roll in Kansas,” said Newman.  “I believe Jimmie had a 5.7 finishing average in the 10 Chase races last year and if that’s what it’s going to take to win the championship this year, then we have some work ahead of us.  The way the 5 and the 48 are currently running we all have to step it up or it’s going to be a two-driver battle for the championship.”

The next three Chase races on the schedule will be pivotal for the U.S. Army/Haas Automation Chevrolet Impala SS.  All three are intermediate tracks which Newman has had a 16.1 finishing average at the nine intermediate tracks they have ran this year.

“That average (16.1) won’t cut it,” Newman said candidly.  “But I am confident that we’re going to have a strong package for our Army/Haas Automation Chevy at the upcoming races.  I am really proud of this team for what we’ve accomplished thus far.  Making the Chase was huge and being in the championship hunt after the first two races gives us all a sense of accomplishment.”

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