HOMESTEAD, Fla. (Nov. 18, 2009) -- The 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup season, which comes to an end Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway, can easily be labeled a success for Ryan Newman and his first-year Stewart-Haas Racing team.

The U.S. Army/Haas Automation driver is currently sitting in ninth place in the Chase driver point standings with five top-fives, 15 top-10s and two poles.

"Making the Chase was obviously the big highlight for our U.S. Army/Haas-Automation team," said Newman. "Though we deserved to be in the Chase, we're not totally satisfied with the season either. We still haven't won our first race as a team and we won't be sitting at the head table during Champions Week in Las Vegas. We still have one more shot to win that first race in our Chevy Impala SS. But whatever happens in Homestead we will not be disappointed at all about 2009."

" 'How can you be disappointed?' We've done a lot of great things as an organization," added Newman. "I didn't have any idea what to expect. I just knew that I wanted to go out there and have fun, and if we had fun, we were going to be successful one way or another."

A slow start that saw Newman 32nd in points after the fourth race of the season didn't faze team crew chief Tony Gibson.

"Our early record wasn't about bad performances, it was about bad luck," said Gibson. "I could sense early on that we had good chemistry with Ryan behind the wheel and it sure has paid off. However, we still have a ways to go to catch those teams in front of us. And that's going to be the off-season goal -- to get to the next level of a championship team."

Gibson added, "This team has fought hard all year and most of the time when things didn't look so hot, we kept on pounding away and brought home pretty good finishes. Ryan has driven his heart out. The foundation is set in place and the building process will continue. Winning the final race of the year would be real sweet -- a fantastic way to cap off an already successful season."

In seven starts at the 1.5-mile Homestead-Miami Speedway, Newman has achieved two top-10s. His best finishes were sixth in 2002 and seventh in 2005. He also notched four top-five starting positions in the seven races.

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Newman's Homestead-Miami Speedway Career Cup Record:

Year St Fn

2002 15 6

2003 4 37

2004 3 30

2005 2 7

2006 16 23

2007 2 18

2008 29 21

No. 39 Over-the-Wall Crew (city is hometown)

Front-tire changer: Scott Brzozowski, Sterling Heights, Mich.

Front-tire carrier: Josh Mick, Houston, Texas

Rear-tire changer: Matt Lundstrom, Snohomish, Wash.

Rear-tire carrier: Jason Fowler, Winston-Salem, N.C.

Gasman: Michael Moore, Springfield, Mass.

Jackman: Andrew Turner, Coloma, Mich.

Catch Can: Andy Rueger, Seymour, Ind.

Windshield: Jay Guarneri, Naples, Fla.

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Crew Chief: Tony Gibson, Daytona Beach, Fla.

Car Chief: Kevin Pennell, Kannapolis, N.C.

Spotter: Greg Newman, South Bend, Ind.

Engine Specialist: Jay Nolan, Jacksonville, Fla.

Engineer: Johnny Klausmeier, Perry Hall, Md.

Engine: Hendrick Motorsports

Shock Specialist: Brian Holshouser, Charlotte

Tire Specialist: Ray Osian, Salisbury, N.C.

Mechanic: Joe Cline, Maiden, N.C.

Mechanic: Shawn Warren, Concord, N.C.

Pit Support: Chris Miller, Kannapolis, N.C.

Truck Drivers: Rick Hodges, Raleigh, N.C.

Todd Cable, Shelby, N.C.