A late caution extended the Subway Fresh Fit 600 three laps past its scheduled distance of 375 laps. Kyle Busch and Jimmie Johnson each took four tires on Lap 373. Jeff Gordon, who also took two tires, finished behind Newman after spinning his tires on the restart.
Tony Gibson, Newman's crew chief, wanted to go with four tires but Newman made the suggestion to only take two. Gibson ultimately agreed and it proved to be the right call. Newman said after the race that he was surprised that no team chose to not take tires in order to improve track position.
The win by Newman was also the first of the season for Stewart-Haas. Owner/driver Tony Stewart has failed to make it to victory lane this year.
Newman had bad luck through the first part of the season with a crash, blow engine and pit-stop mistakes. A fourth-place finish two weeks ago at Martinsville, however, seemed to be the turning point for the team. The Phoenix win moved Newman up six positions to 16th in the Sprint Cup standings.
Ryan Newman Grabbed First Stewart-Haas Victory of 2010 at Phoenix
Tom Pennington/Getty Images for NASCAR
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