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Newman wins debut at E-Z-GO 200

Oct 25, 2008 - 8:49 PM ATLANTA (Ticker) -- Ryan Newman's debut in the NASCAR Craftsman Trucks Series at Atlanta Motor Speedway was one to remember.

Newman battled with Ron Hornaday Jr. over the final five laps, holding off his teammate to win Saturday's E-Z-GO 200.

"This is the first time for me in Atlanta (in Victory Lane), so that was special in itself," Newman said. "(Today) was a lot of fun. But AMS is a lot of fun too; it upped it one level on the fun meter."

Hornaday briefly overtook Newman as the two drivers from Kevin Harvick Inc. began the final lap. But Newman regained the lead down the back straightaway and held on for the victory in his debut.

"Second stinks," Hornaday said. "I just missed the corner off two, and he ran me down and got the momentum. He came and stole my thunder these last couple laps."

Series points leader Johnny Benson, who finished seventh, had his lead over Hornaday cut to 31 points with three races remaining.

Newman joined Mike Skinner (1995), Robert Pressley (2002) and Kasey Kahne (2004) as drivers to win their NCTS debut.

"(Hornaday) raced me clean," Newman said. "He left me room; he could have pinched me off twice, but he raced me like a gentleman. Obviously he's racing for a championship and I'm well aware of that too."

Kyle Busch had won each of his previous three starts on the 1.54-mile oval but finished eighth Saturday.

After the Chevrolet pair of Newman and Hornaday, three Toyotas driven by Denny Hamlin, Todd Bodine and Scott Speed rounded out the top five.