Racebeat
by Rich Romer

MAPLE GROVE, PA--NASCAR Winston Cup Ryan Newman's determination and a convenient rainstorm made him a winner for the first time in his Winston Cup career. Newman barely held off Kurt Busch to take the rain-shortened New Hampshire 300. But for the third incursion of the day,

when rain assured his victory, Newman might have been talking about still another second-place finish. Lap after lap, Busch drew up to Newman's bumper, barely tapping him once. But a caution for rain waved on lap 199, ending the chase. After seven more laps, NASCAR ended the race. The win followed consecutive second-place finishes for the 24-year-old driver. It also further established him as one of the top drivers in NASCAR. It was the first points-paying victory for the former USAC open-wheel champion from South Bend, Ind. In May, he won The Winston, NASCAR's all-star race. Sterling Marlin finished 21st and lost the points lead for the first time since the second race of the season. Mark Martin, who overcame a tire problem with 50 laps remaining, took it away with a finish of 16th, and leads Marlin by six points.

Newman started on the pole for the fourth time this season and led three times for 143 laps on the 1.058-mile New Hampshire International Speedway in a race that ended under caution. The Purdue University graduate with a degree in engineering became the 16th driver to win this season with nine races remaining. The record of 19 winners in a season was set last year.