Tony Stewart did it. Matt Kenseth did it. Now, its time for Ryan Newman to do it. From Ray bestos Rookie of the Year to Cup Champion in a few short years seems to be the path to follow. In fact, had the points system been different, maybe Ryan Newman would have been champion. But the points system changes were for another discussion. Newman has the skills and dedication to become a Nextel Cup Champion.

Roger Penske's Alltel Dodge driver finished the 2002 season as Raybestos Rookie of the year beating out Jeff Gordon prodigy Jimmie Johnson. Newman won 8 races and 22 top 10 finishes in the 2003 season. Last year Ryan grabbed 11 Bud Poles as the country wondered was their anything stopping this fearless vehicle structure engineering graduate. Even after his toppling wreck at the Daytona 500 early in the season, Newman came back strong to win races at Texas, Dover (twice), Chicago, Pocono, Michigan, Richmond, and Kansas.

To top off his year as the winningest driver, Ryan clinched SPEED Channel's driver of the year 2003. As reported from nascar.com, Ryan's reaction was humbling as he said "this sport is driven by the fans not just the media panel. To win the fan vote is an honor also. It shows a couple of things: the impact of NASCAR racing on the world of motor sports and how driven and dedicated the fans are." The fans vote carried Newman to a 44 percent on www.speedtv.com for the 25 year old Indiana native.

The Penske camp seemed to be always a topic of discussion as Ryan was finishing well. The questionable fuel mileage Crew Chief Matt Borland and the Alltel Dodge camp was a hot topic for most of the season. At the Kansas Speedway, Newman drove the last 117 miles on one tank of fuel. Tony Stewart was commented as saying: "I'm going to start buying fuel at their house". They weren't cheating, but it proved that Penske Racing engine builders were compiling engines with good fuel efficiency and great horsepower. The secret was finally revealed in mid-October. NASCAR mandates no more than an 830 cfm (cubic feet per minute) carburetor. Newman's crew discovered that if they run a carburetor that flows 750 cfm they only give up 2 horsepower which then provides them with .5 miles per gallon extra in fuel consumption.

So if Ryan wins the Nextel Cup Championship, will he pull out an Alltel cellular phone and call home to mom? Are there any fines from Nextel for displays of joy and gratitude towards a sponsor and fans? Oh wait a minute, sorry Ryan, that is the NFL not NASCAR.