Ryan Newman has struggled in recent years. (AP Images)

Ryan Newman is a huge long shot on NASCAR betting odds, as he has 50/1 odds to win the Sprint Cup Championship. does the veteran driver look like a respectable value pick? This is your 2011 Ryan Newman preview.

For a few years, Newman looked like he would at least be very competitive on an annual basis. He finished either sixth or seventh in the final Sprint Cup standings from 2002-2005 and was especially impressive in 2003. that season, he set career highs across the board: eight victories, 11 poles, 17 Top-5 finishes and 22 Top-10 finishes.

Newman has struggled over the last five years, however, cracking the Top-10 in the final standings just once. He’s finished 18th, 13th, 17th, ninth, and 15th in that span and, suffice to say, the wins have dried up. during his four-year hot streak, Newman captured 12 checkered flags and 34 poles. In the last five years, he has just two wins and nine poles.

In fact, Newman hasn’t even been close. From 2002-2004 he picked up Top-5 finishes in 14, 17, and 11 races. Newman hasn’t cracked double-digits in the past six seasons, however, so he’s got some serious catching up to do.

But 2011 could be different. After racing for Penske for his entire career, Newman has jumped ship and signed with Stewart-Haas Racing. so far, the move looks like a clever one. Largely aided by a strong qualifying effort — he started eighth on the grid last weekend — Newman secured a third-place finish at the Budweiser Shootout. last year, it took Newman eight races to earn his first Top-5 finish of the year despite starting in the Top-10 four times.

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