Off the Hook: Racing's his work, fishing's his pastime

Ryan Newman spent Saturday night bumping and grinding with other NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers at Richmond International Raceway.

But if not for his race commitment, he might have spent Saturday fishing.

When Newman isn't behind the wheel of the Alltel No. 12 Dodge, he's either on the water or helping wife Krissie with the Ryan Newman Foundation. The organization, founded three years ago, is dedicated to helping no-kill animal shelters and animal clinics across the country.

Newman and his wife also have started the Racing for Wildlife Project that helps raise money for conservation.

Between racing alongside NASCAR's best and raising funds for his charities, Newman has little time for angling ventures.

"I don't get to fish as often as I would like," Newman said Thursday. "I fish at home, when I'm there, in my pond.

"But when I'm on the road, I try to find a lake of some sort that I can fish in every chance I get."

Employees of various tracks know about Newman's love for angling. So they try to help.

"People in the garage always tell me about good lakes or ponds that they have found near different tracks," he said. "Sometimes I just go around and look for them myself."

Some racing facilities even have infield retention ponds that have been stocked.

"Darlington has a pond on track property," Newman said. "Daytona has Lake Lloyd, and Homestead has a lake on track property.

"At Talladega and Martinsville, I go to local lakes. I don't really have a favorite. I just like to have the chance to go fish."

Newman hasn't had the opportunity, however, to enjoy Virginia's bass-fishing opportunities. Richmond's spring and fall stops both are on Saturday nights. With the previous race ending on Sunday afternoon, the workweek is a day shorter.

"I know there is some good fishing, but it's usually a quick weekend," Newman said.

When Newman does fish, it's for largemouth bass - the first species he ever caught while fishing with his grandfather in Dowagiac, Mich., when he was 3.

As an adult, Newman has incorporated his love of the sport into a way to raise money for his charities.

In 2006, he started the Ryan Newman Foundation Celebrity Charity Fishing Tournament. Featuring professional bass fisherman and several NASCAR drivers, last year's event raised more than $100,000.

For Newman, like most anglers, going fishing is a time to reflect and relax.

"It just gives me a chance to get away from everything and enjoy the peacefulness and the scenery," said Newman, 30. "I love the outdoors and, for me, fishing allows me time to enjoy everything.

"Krissie would tell you that the more fish I catch, the better mood I'm in when I get to the racetrack. And that could be true."

Newman's travels have afforded him the opportunity to fish all over the country. He has been to some of the best-known places and some quality private ponds. He has even caught bass from racetrack retention ponds while others raced around him.

But his biggest fish came not long after he blew a tire and wrecked in a 2006 Nationwide race in Atlanta.

"That ended my day," said Newman, who was 11th in the overall Sprint standings heading into Saturday's Richmond race.

"I went to the infield care center and got checked out. When they cleared me I went to the bus, got my rods and went to a nearby private pond I had fished before.

"I caught the biggest largemouth bass I had ever caught - 10 pounds, 6 ounces."

Lee Tolliver, (757) 222-5844, lee.tolliver@pilotonline.com