Could Ryan Newman retire after 2021?

 

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    "Rocket Man" Ryan Newman has been driving full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series since 2002 (and had 8 starts before that). The closest that Newman has come to a Cup Series championship was runner-up to Kevin Harvick in 2014, with Richard Childress Racing. Winless in the past 3 seasons, and currently winless in 2021, Newman's week-to-week performance has been dropping for a while now. 

With his contract with Roush-Fenway Racing up at the end of this season, and a possible deal with Brad Keselowski in the works (confirmed), Ryan Newman might not return to the No. 6 Ford Mustang in 2022. Recently Fastenal resigned their contract as a sponsor of the No. 17 until 2024, based on that news alone, I don't think that Chris Buescher is going anywhere (any time soon).

Rumors of retirement for Ryan Newman have been passed around since his wild crash in the 2020 Daytona 500, in which he received a major head injury. It will be interesting to see whether or not a team will sign Newman on for 2022, or if he will just hang his helmet up for good.

Update: Concerning today’s (7/20/21) big News that Brad Keselowski will become a partial owner of Roush Fenway Racing, and also drive the No. 6 Mustang, the team has announced that Ryan Newman will not be returning to the team full time next season. However Newman has been offered a part time ride with Roush Fenway Racing. Newman who simply enjoys racing may have no expectation to take any step backwards, though if an offer does not prevail Newman may have no other option.