The Rocket Man is launching back into NASCAR’s Cup series. Ryan Newman nicknamed the Rocket Man will be returning to NASCAR with Rick Ware Racing for select events this season starting with the May 12 race at Darlington Raceway.

The 45-year-old from South Bend, Indiana, was one of NASCAR’s star drivers who began racing in 1993 in USAC and the All-American Midget Series where he won both Rookie of the Year and the series championship.

He started his Cup career in 2000 with Penske Racing. He competed in the series while finishing up his engineering degree at Purdue University which made him at the time one of the rare NASCAR drivers with a college degree and who could speak to the ever-growing engineering side of the sport.

He won 13 of his 18 NASCAR Cup wins with Penske including 8 in 2003 and included the 2008 Daytona 500. Newman moved to Stewart-Haas Racing, the newly formed team with Tony Stewart, in 2008. He won 4 races with that team that ended after the 2013 season when SHR announced that Kevin Harvick would be joining the team and Newman would be out due to the lack of funding for a fourth car.

Newman went to Richard Childress Racing the following season finishing the 2014 season second in the championship points, a career best, despite winning no races. He won only 1 race during this RCR tenure and left the team at the end of 2018 after his career worst season and joined Roush Fenway Racing.

In 2020 while leading the Daytona 500 coming to the line, Newman was involved in a horrific accident that put him in the hospital the ended with the stunning, and heartwarming sight of him leaving the hospital just two days later holding the hands of his two young daughters. He would return to racing 3 events later, but many felt he was never the same and he stepped back from the sport at the end of 2021 after being replaced by the team’s new minority owner Brad Keselowski.

Newman holds the distinction of winning 51 poles in his career, ninth on the all-time list.

After stepping away from NASCAR Cup racing, Newman has raced in the NASCAR modified series and in 2022 joined the Superstar Racing Experience owned in part by Tony Stewart, where he finished second in the championship to Marco Andretti. He has committed to returning to that series this season.

Team owner Rick Ware knew of Newman and his talents in the driver’s early years.

“I remember watching ‘Thursday Night Thunder’ on ESPN and seeing Ryan compete against some stout competition in those days,” said Ware. “I became a fan then and when he first came to NASCAR, I knew he was going to be a great driver and win a lot of races.

“He brings great depth and insight to RWR RWR while we continue to grow our team. Ryan’s been a great ambassador for our sport and Ford. We’re really looking forward to racing with him this season.”

In 26 career starts at Darlington, Newman has 7 top-five and 14 top-10 finishes, with an average finishing position of 12.3. He was named to NASCAR’s Greatest Driver’s list in April.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to work with Rick Ware Racing and Ford,” Newman said. “I think this will be good for all of us with our combined experience and knowledge.

“Being part of the Throwback Weekend at one of my favorite tracks in Darlington is pretty special. After recently being named one of NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers, it carries even some significance.”

In a release announcing his return Friday, the team didn’t specify which races beyond Darlington Newman will appear in.