The historic New Smyrna Speedway will kick off the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour in about a week’s time. Clyde Hart and his family opened New Smyrna Speedway, titled Daytona Raceway at the time, as a dirt track in 1967 and since then it has been graced by famous NASCAR names over the years, which include Richie Evans, Tony Stewart, Kyle Busch, Kyle Larson, and many others. One such famous Cup Series name is set to return behind the wheel at New Smyrna on February 8.

Last year, we saw Ryan Newman compete in four Modified Tour races for different cars. With more than 20 years of experience in the Cup Series, Newman made his debut in the Whelen racing series back in 2008 and has competed in at least one race in the discipline since. Now, after racing in four races last year, he looks set for an extended run this year.

Taking to his Instagram, Newman announced that he will be competing at the New Smyrna to kick off the season. He confirmed that he will be participating in more Whelen Tour races that will be announced soon. Sharing a photo of what appeared to be the press release for his return, he noted, “Some exciting News!! The 2025 racing season will start for me on February 8th at the NASCAR Whelen Modified race in New Smyrna, Florida.”

Newman retired from full-time NASCAR racing in 2021 but has continued to make appearances on the track including partnering with Rick Ware Racing for the 2023 season. He drove the #51 at the Darlington Raceway. But in his IG message, he laid out his future racing plans, noting, “Just down the street from Daytona Beach where so many great racing memories were made, short track racing is my desired path for racing action now.” Newman also revealed the team he will be driving for in the new season.

In his press release, he noted, “I will pilot the No.8 car, owned by John-Michael Shenette of Eighty-Two Autosport. I plan to participate in additional Whelen Tour races that will be announced at a later time.” Notably, his return follows a strong finish at Martinsville last season, where he secured a top-five result driving Shenette’s car. Interestingly, the connection between Shenette and Newman goes way back despite not having met or spoken to each other until last summer.

When John-Michael Shenette was 15, he wrote a letter to Team Penske requesting an autograph from an up-and-coming Ryan Newman. Newman was at the start of his NASCAR career that would see him win 18 Cup Series races, including the 2008 Daytona 500 and the 2013 Brickyard 400.

Talking about Newman last year, Shenette said, “When I was younger, (Ryan) was kind of the driver that I watched. I was a big Ryan Newman fan. I wrote (Penske) a letter asking for an autograph from Ryan Newman. … Ryan doesn’t know that.” He then got to experience a full-circle moment as Newman joined forces with him to compete at Virginia is for Racing Lovers 200 at Martinsville Speedway, the 2024 season finale.

Speaking about his comeback, Newman expressed excitement and recalled how the track has shaped his life. “New Smyrna is a track that introduced me to modified racing in a couple of ways. First, as a spectator sitting up in the grandstands with my dad watching the greats from the Northeast during Daytona speedweek. Then as a driver when I made my modified debut there,” he said in the statement.

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What is risky about it? I can’t figure out no matter how he does it can’t tarnish what he did...more

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Initially, the track started out as Daytona Raceway however just six months later, owner Clyde Hart realized that the dirt track didn’t provide the best racing due to the consistency of the dirt. Hence, the track was then paved over, and eventually, the name changed to New Smyrna Speedway.

Notably, New Smyrna is just a short drive from Daytona Beach, a place that has played a huge role in Newman’s career. He secured one of his biggest victories at Daytona, winning the 2008 Daytona 500. However, Daytona is also where Newman endured the most terrifying crash of his career.

In the 2020 Daytona 500, he was leading on the final lap when contact with Ryan Blaney sent his car airborne. Newman’s vehicle flipped multiple times before being struck by Corey LaJoie’s car, igniting flames. The horrifying crash left fans in shock. Though he was unconscious and rushed to the hospital, Newman made a miraculous recovery. He suffered a brain bruise but had no memory of the incident.

A year later, Newman announced his retirement from NASCAR. Notably, his career spans over two decades. In 2014, he came close to winning a Cup Series championship, finishing second in the standings.

When Newman was competing full-time in the Cup and part-time in the Xfinity and Truck Series, he got less time to race in the Whelen Tour, but now after his retirement, he seems to have found the perfect racing series for him. He retired before NASCAR launched the Next-Gen, but did experience the new cars when he briefly returned in 2023, but his experience wasn’t pleasant.

Newman’s struggles with the Next-Gen Car

Ryan Newman retired from full-time NASCAR racing in 2021 but remained active in motorsports. He competed in the SMART Modified Tour, finishing third in points and even winning at New River All-American Speedway. His love for racing never faded. In 2023, he made some part-time appearances in the NASCAR Cup Series.

In his eight Cup series appearances, he didn’t have a good time. Newman’s transition to the Next-Gen car was anything but smooth, as his experiences were frustrating. Unlike the Gen-6 cars he had raced for years, the Next-Gen car presented new challenges. Newman struggled with its handling, aerodynamics, and overall balance.

After the 2023 Darlington race, he said, “Yeah, my seat was not comfortable. I had rib pain after the end of the first stage, so I was miserable in the car. I got a cramp in my foot. My ribs feel like somebody punched me.” Notably, the biggest issue with the car is its racing dynamics. The Next-Gen model relied heavily on aerodynamic grip rather than mechanical grip, which changed how drivers approached passing and cornering.

Newman wasn’t alone in his struggles. Jimmie Johnson, a seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, faced similar difficulties after coming out of retirement in 2023. Johnson’s performances were underwhelming, failing to crack the top 25 in multiple races. This highlighted how drastically the sport had evolved, making it tougher for older drivers to adjust.