Newman wrecks during final practice

TALLADEGA, Ala. – Ryan Newman's wild rides at restrictor-plate tracks continued Friday at Talladega Superspeedway.

Newman was rear-ended by Mark Martin 16 laps into Happy Hour final practice and will be forced to a back-up car for qualifying on Saturday -- weather permitting.

"I don't know what happened," Newman said. "I know I got hit. I just don't know why or what happened. Just tired (of) being the one getting hit at these places. I guess I will just start driving into everybody like they do me and see if I can turn somebody else around and see what happens.

"It is a product of the racing here and it is not the greatest but I know NASCAR is doing everything they can and we'll see if it gets any better throughout the weekend."

Newman was 13th fastest (195.760 mph) in practice prior to the incident.

The backup car Newman will use already has some restrictor-plate experience. Aside from being the same car he tested at Talladega last month during the spoiler test, the chassis was the same one Newman qualified third for the 2009 Daytona 500. However, the car was wrecked during the Gatorade Duel qualifying race and never competed in the 500.