NASCAR’s new ‘first lady’ is force to be reckoned with

Ryan and Krissie Newman

Truckers Connection

5/29/2008

Louise Smith was probably the “first lady” of NASCAR, but her rein ended in 1956. Not since then has NASCAR had a proclaimed “first lady.” I’m not referring to the wife of NASCAR president Brian France; I’m talking about a female personality who has made her own place in life as well as the sport. Louise Smith was someone fans could relate to, someone fans could admire.

Since the sport is dominated by male personalities, it’s easy enough for fans to admire the male drivers on the track, but to complete the picture and give the sport a more well-rounded appeal; fans need a female to follow as well.

For so many years, a void existed in that role, but today, that female undoubtedly has become Krissie Newman, wife of this year’s Daytona 500 champion Ryan Newman.

Many have already proclaimed her NASCAR’s sweetheart and for good reason. She is an unyielding philanthropist for animal causes and a friend to every Cup organization in the garage. And, let’s not forget she bakes too. It’s cookies every weekend for the No. 12 team, and who wouldn’t want that, right?

Krissie’s character and accessibility have made her what some consider a role model for the sport of NASCAR, and it kind of goes back to wanting to see our heroes be heroes. We would like to think that people in the spotlight can do some good in this world of ours. Their influence and popularity give them advantages over the rest of us, especially when it comes to campaigning for a cause.

“I think she’s like a first lady to a president. People look up to Krissie as much as they look up to Ryan,” said Michelle Croom, executive assistant for the Newman family. “She is a real leader in this sport ... to know Krissie is to love her.” With her down-to-earth demeanor, Krissie made a lasting impression on NASCAR fans on Feb. 17 after watching her husband win the 50th running of the Daytona 500.

In an oversized sweatshirt and hair pulled back in a pony tail, a tearful Krissie walked from the No. 12 Penske Racing pit box to greet her husband, overwhelmed with emotion. In post-race interviews, the 30-year-old Jersey girl, full of amazement, held tight to her husband’s arm and displayed extreme pride and elation.

“I had never imagined I would ever feel that emotional after a win, but I could not stop shaking and crying throughout the night,” Krissie said. “The past few seasons have been less than stellar, and the Alltel Crew, Ryan included, never lost faith or focus.”

Almost immediately, fans formed a connection and wanted to know everything about NASCAR’s new favorite wife. Follow the race, her hits on Google went through the roof, according to a California blogger who tracks drivers’ wives and significant others. “The response was huge on our fan forum,” Croom added. “It is because Krissie is accessible and even more approachable. She will stop and talk to any and every fan she can.”

What fans especially love about Krissie is that she and her husband refuse to hide behind handlers or shy away from the public. In fact, the two were reportedly spotted shopping together at a grocery store two miles outside California Speedway – the same couple that had just won the Daytona 500. Ryan had just been cut a $1 million check from Dodge’s chief executive officer Bob Nardelli.

Since her marriage to Ryan in 2004, Krissie, according to blogs and fan feedback, has become a personality and every girl wants to call her best friend. Those who know her best say her zest for life is contagious, her personality is influential, and Krissie is well aware of her position as a NASCAR wife.

Whether it is coaxing a Dodge dealership out of trucks to haul dog food around to animal shelters in Louisiana following Hurricane Katrina, or making T-shirts supporting the animal cruelty conviction of Michael Vick, Newman throws her weight around… all 120 pounds of it.

She knows what her title can bring and she uses it wisely. Plus, she’s not afraid to get her hands dirty. Recently, she agreed to wait tables in Pocono, Pa., to raise money for abused animals used in dog fighting arenas.

But racing wasn’t a life she went looking for. The term NASCAR was completely foreign to her and she even admits she thought “The King” was Elvis Presley, not Richard Petty. And as for the Rocket Man, well, she says she learned to know him soon enough.

Krissie’s first date with her husband was in 2001, a blind date arranged through her grandmother and a friend from church. Clerking for a judge in Charlotte, N.C., at the time, she agreed to meet Ryan for dinner. It was only after lengthy interrogations over the phone that ultimately lead to what family and friends could best describe as a “giddy courtship.”

The two were married in 2004 and honeymooned in Jackson Hole, Wyo. Today, Krissie’s life virtually revolves around her husband’s career on the road, but she says she tries to do it in a fashion where her own identity remains intact. She is a volunteer board member of the Humane Society of Catawba County and uses her criminal science degree from Shippensburg University to keep a watchful eye over Ryan’s affairs.

She’s in the process of obtaining her pilot’s license to make travel on the 36-weekend Cup circuit a bit more convenient, and in addition to overseeing the Ryan Newman Foundation, she also maintains a blog giving her views on the sport from the eyes of a NASCAR wife.

Her ever-increasing involvement in the sport has been noticed by many. Fred Gill, attraction ambassador for country-music superstars Big and Rich, met Krissie at a concert two years ago. A friendship with her and her husband formed instantly and Gill became a huge NASCAR fan.

He said her friendship, as well as Krissie’s impact in the sport, is one-of-a-kind. “She sets an example for a lot of women in the sport, and she’s not just a driver’s wife,” Gill said. “She is important to the sport, because it’s good to have a strong female presence for the female audience in NASCAR.”

Together, Gill and the Newmans participate in NASCAR’s Sound and Speed Festival in Nashville, Tenn., each year to benefit the Victory Junction Gang Camp and Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

“Walking down pit road with Krissie, I see how well received she is,” Gill said. “She’s a wonderful person and someone to follow.”