From his earliest days competing in United States Auto Club events to his time in the NASCAR Cup Series, one thing that has always stood out about Ryan Newman is that he’s a racer.
He’s not afraid to get his hands dirty. He wants to know everything about the cars he drives. If there’s a way to find speed, one can bet the driver who earned the nickname “Rocketman” will try to find it.
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Racers want to race. And more often than not, racers gravitate to other racers. That’s what makes the pairing of Newman and Glenn Styres so perfect.
The duo, which first worked together for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour event at Martinsville Speedway earlier this season, will unite again Saturday for the Mohegan Sun 100 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway (4:30 p.m. ET on FloRacing).
ENTRY LIST: See who’s racing at New Hampshire
“Glenn’s been gracious enough to let me take his seat and go racing,” said Newman, who will drive Styres’ No. 0 Modified in Saturday’s 100-lap event. “He loves racing so much that he overcommits himself to doing all the things that he wants to do. … The guy has like 30-plus race cars. Kyle Larson couldn’t drive all those and lay out a schedule that makes sense.
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“Glenn has a lot of ambition, and that ambition has given me an opportunity because he’s got other things to do in the form of running his race track and running his other race cars that he wants to do.”
Newman first met Styres, who owns Canada’s Ohsweken Speedway and has raced just about every type of car one can imagine, while visiting North Carolina’s zMAX Dragway for an NHRA drag racing event.
Not surprisingly, the two became fast friends.
Ryan Newman, driver of the No. 0 Ohsweken Speedway Modified, during the Virginia is for Racing Lovers 200 for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour at Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, Virginia, on March 28, 2026. (Adam Fenwick/NASCAR)
Newman learned Styres had a nearly race-ready Modified in storage. Styres himself has never entered a Modified Tour event, but Newman saw an opportunity to blow the dust off the FURY chassis and do a bit of racing.
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“Glenn had a car at the FURY shop. I’ve become friends with Ryan Stone, the crew chief of the No. 51 (for Justin Bonsignore). What I didn’t realize is Glenn actually had another car that was in storage,” Newman explained. “Through my conversations with Ryan Stone and Glenn, we decided to pull the car out of storage and just go racing.”
Newman and Styres made their debut together at Martinsville in late March. Newman qualified 14th and earned a 10th-place finish in Styres’ No. 0.
It was a solid first outing, but Newman believes there is plenty of room for improvement.
RELATED: Get tickets to Saturday’s Mohegan Sun 100
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“We finished in the top 10 at Martinsville, which was good for our maiden voyage, but we’re looking for a lot more than that when we go to Loudon,” Newman said.
Because Styres has so many other irons in the fire, it’s basically been up to Newman and a handful of others to get the car ready to race. Once they get to New Hampshire later this week, they’ll gain a few more helping hands to make things just a little bit easier.
“I basically wrench on the car myself,” Newman said. “My girlfriend, my daughters and a few other people like Ryan Stone (help). Glenn has one of his guys he’s sending down with a truck and trailer to help a little bit, which isn’t common but is appreciated. It’s a small group of us.
“When we get up to Loudon, Max Zachem and his guys that he usually has working on race cars will be there to help out with pitting. Max will be in the crew chief role. We kind of just piece it together.”
Ryan Newman #4 during practice for the New Smyrna Beach Area Visitors Bureau 200 for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour during night 2 of the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing at New Smyrna Speedway in New Smyrna, Florida on February 7, 2026. (Adam Glanzman/NASCAR)
The Modified Tour event at New Hampshire is traditionally one of the most anticipated races of the year. The Tour’s rules package combined with the track’s size and shape allow for a unique mix of pack racing and drafting, which has led to exciting action and thrilling finishes.
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Newman is no stranger to New Hampshire. He won three times in NASCAR Cup Series competition at the track, including his first victory in 2002. He’s also won twice with the Modified Tour at the 1.058-mile oval. Saturday’s Mohegan Sun 100 will be Newman’s 22nd Modified Tour event at New Hampshire, but his first since 2021.
The Indiana native believes his success at New Hampshire is connected to his experience racing at another flat asphalt track, Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.
“For the longest time I said it was my least favorite race track and it was my most successful on paper. I think it’s just because it’s a lot like the corners of IRP,” Newman said. “I think it just kind of suits my driving style, and you’ve got tire management, brake management and all those types of things.
“Then when you get to the Modifieds, you throw in drafting. That’s another part of it that a lot of Modified drivers aren’t used to that I have a lot of experience with. It’s just a fun combination.”
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Newman doesn’t know how many more opportunities he’ll have to race with the Modified Tour, but he knows he’s found a like-minded friend in Styres. Together, they’re just a pair of racers at heart looking to chase checkered flags and have fun doing it.
“As they say, a good day is when you’re competitive and you do all the things that are in your control and you can roll it back on the trailer,” Newman said. “It’s not like this team is a championship contending team, because we don’t chase points. We’re just there for a good time and to try and win the race.”
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