Backstretch Motorsports

Cool Hand Luke, Henry Gondorff in “The Sting”, “Fast” Eddie Felson in The Hustler, Butch Cassidy.. the list is endless.

Gentleman racer, team owner… generosity unmatched in the realm of children with illnesses.

Only his love of family exceeded his love for racing and competitive motorsports.

“It’s truly a sad day,” said Don Panoz, founder of the American Le Mans Series and a close friend of Newman. “Paul was one of the most iconic figures not just in motorsports but through his life in general. He was so much more a contributor to the world than a taker. He was a dear friend and will be missed.”

Road Atlanta was one of his favorite tracks, and he won five SCCA Nationals here: 1975, 1976, 1979, 1985 and 1986. The last of those four were in the prestigious SCCA Runoffs.

“I probably wouldn’t be racing today if it wasn’t for Paul Newman,” said Gunnar Jeannette, who first raced with Newman in 2000. “The first time I got in the car that year, he was faster than I was. Even recently, he was still incredibly quick and could get around Lime Rock (his home track) better than anyone. He has been such a huge influence on my career and has been a close friend of our family for a long time.”

Newman died Friday night at his Connecticut home at the age of 83. An Academy Award-winning actor, Newman was a passionate motorsport enthusiast who finished second overall at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1979 in a Porsche 935 Turbo with Dick Barbour Racing, one of many professional racing accomplishments.

“We were introduced driving Ferraris in 1977 at Daytona, and we developed a mutual friendship,” Barbour said. “Paul was so passionate about driving. He told me a few times that he didn’t really care for Hollywood, and that it was just a business. He really wished he had started driving earlier and made that his career. He was very consistent, never put a wheel off and was easy on the equipment.”

Newman also was a legendary name in the open-wheel ranks. Newman/Haas Racing was formed by Newman and fellow Can-Am competitor Carl Haas in the early 1980s. The team won seven Champ Car titles and nearly 100 races. With the recent influx of open-wheel stars into the American Le Mans Series’ paddock, there were countless stories and tales to tell Saturday:

“There was a legend quality to Paul Newman not unlike Mario (Andretti),” said Lowe’s Fernandez Racing driver and owner Adrian Fernandez, himself an ex-Champ Car competitor. “He was a guy who you’d see and be around and just realize how much love and passion he had for racing. I always admired, as did others in the paddock, how he would often put racing before his movie career. I remember a time when he missed an important movie awards show in order to be at one of our events. He was a very sweet person to talk to about everything, not just racing. He will be sadly missed.”

“It’s certainly a sad day for all of us that knew Paul.” said former Newman/Haas driver/ fellow IRL owner-competitor. “He was just a great guy and truly loved everything about racing. He and I shared a true passion for motorsports in general, but specifically IndyCar racing. Some of the fondest memories I have of my career are from the time I spent at Newman/Haas and I’ll never forget those. Paul was one of a kind and he will be missed, for sure.”

“It has been a very upsetting 24 hours for the team and my family.” said current NHLR driver Graham Rahal. Paul has been a huge part of both my success as well as my father’s and he will be greatly missed. He was a tremendous man, one that everyone should model their lives after. My sincere condolences go out to the Newman family.”

“Paul Newman - a real American hero, an inspiration to me in much that I have attempted in my adult life.” said Jack Roush “Not so much for the parts he played but for the man that he was. He was one of Hollywood’s greatest. He could not only talk the talk on film but more importantly could walk the walk as a private citizen. As a young man he was an American hero who served his country in one of the U.S. Army Air Corps’ most dangerous assignments in western Europe. Additionally, his charitable enterprizes have generated 10’s of millions for the benefit of hundreds of thousands of underpriviledged Americans. He will be never forgotten, may he rest in peace.”

Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports, made the following statement redarding his relationship with Newman

“Paul and I were friends for more than 20 years. We met in the mid-1980s through Jim Fitzgerald and raced together in the SCCA. The two of us had many of the same passions, and I will always cherish the time we shared. He was one of the most amazing people I’ve ever known.

“The Paul Newman I knew loved his family, fast cars and fishing. He was an amazing actor, a generous philanthropist and a caring friend. I’ve never met anyone so diversely talented, yet so humble and authentic. He was pure magic.”