Until tonight the No. 39 had never seen Victory Lane glory in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series competition, but Ryan Newman showed everyone how it is done under the lights at Phoenix International Raceway.

Kyle Busch, who won the Nationwide Series race at PIR on Friday night, was leading as the laps wound down but the caution flag flew with only four laps to go when Scott Riggs’ No. 90 hit the wall after it cut down a right front tire.

Busch gave up the lead to take four tires on pit road. Jeff Gordon restarted first but took the high-line giving Newman the inside and Newman took full advantage of Gordon’s decision.

He jumped in front of the 4-time champion quickly and never looked back. It was Newman’s first victory since the 2008 Daytona 500 and his first for Stewart-Haas Racing.

“I held my line and got a good shot off of turn 2 and it was all we needed,” Newman said. “We’ve come so far as a team to get to this point, obviously is a great thing.”

His team owner, teammate and close friend Tony Stewart was there to congratulate him as he pulled the Tornados Chevrolet to the post-race celebration.

“He’s so proud of me,” Newman said of Stewart. “He told me he loved me and I told him I loved him back… It’s the most emotional victory I’ve ever had in my entire career.”

Phoenix International Raceway was the site for Newman’s debut race.

Gordon finished 2nd in front of his Hendrick Motorsports teammates Jimmie Johnson and Mark Martin who ended up 3rd and 4th, respectively. Juan Pablo Montoya, who led a good portion of the event, finished 5th giving Chevrolet the top-5 sweep.

Roush Fenway Racing teammates Matt Kenseth and Carl Edwards wound up 6th and 7th followed by Busch, Clint Bowyer and Joey Logano.

Next NASCAR’s premier division heads to Texas for the Samsung Mobile 500 which is scheduled to broadcast on FOX at 3pm ET Sunday.

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