Newman to run Eldora Trucks race

Ryan Newman will return to the Camping World Truck Series for the first time since 2015 when he drives the No. 3 Chevrolet next week at Eldora.

Newman took a break from testing the Charlotte road course Tuesday afternoon to join Jordan Anderson in making the announcement. Anderson owns Jordan Anderson Racing and admitted it is hard giving up the seat for the Cup Series star, who finished third at Eldora in its 2013 inaugural race.

“I have a lot of redemption I want to get at Eldora, especially from 2016,” said Anderson, who has dirt wins in his background but exit early in the ’16 race with a blown engine.

“But when Ryan and I got talking, and I really started thinking about it and what this meant for me as an owner [and] for Jordan Anderson as a team and for the guys who work for me and the sponsors that help us grow this team -- the health of this team and how it does is good for everybody. So, the move to put Ryan in is one that was well thought out between everybody.”

Anderson will no longer be eligible for the playoffs because he will not be attempting every race. However, a good run from Newman and -- certainly a win -- will keep his team in the hunt for the owner’s title.

Newman, from neighboring Indiana, said running the Eldora race is something he enjoys and feels like going back home.

“Ultimately, it’s just a good experience and a lot of fun,” said Newman. “I’m glad NASCAR has put a truck race on the dirt.

“I ran the first year and had a lot of fun, just never put a deal together to go back. There’s a lot of things that’s happened in the sport since then with the spec motor deal and all that stuff, so I think we’ll have as good a shot as anybody to go up there and have a shot at the win.”

A mutual friend of both Anderson and Newman helped make the deal happen. Newman will have sponsorship support from VRX Simulators while Rescue Ranch (the nonprofit animal welfare organization founded by Newman and his wife, Krissie) will also be featured on the truck.

“I think the coolest thing is when Ryan made the deal is he said there is one thing you have to let me do. He said, I want to come to the shop and work on the race truck. ... I want to be hands-on and get the setup dialed in, so to have him in the shop with us doing that stuff has been really cool,” Anderson said.

“I was a little nervous at first, but he’s a super laid-back guy, super smart. He knows a lot more than I could have ever imagined. So having him helping us out and wrenching on the truck is really cool.”