Hoosier Ryan Newman takes the 2013 Brickyard 400

SPEEDWAY, Ind. — Ryan Newman took the checkered flag in his backyard Sunday afternoon in the 20th annual Brickyard 400. The 35-year-old led the final 11 laps of the race after Brad Keselowski veered to the pits for a quick splash of fuel. Jimmie Johnson, a four-time winner who led the most laps on the day (73), gained ground on each of the final laps, but Newman held on for the win by 2.658 seconds.

“I knew we had a good car,” Newman said after his win in Indianapolis. “Starting on the pole and winning the race. Just an awesome day for us.”

Johnson, Kasey Kahne, Tony Stewart and Matt Kenseth rounded out the top five. In her first career Brickyard 400 start, Danica Patrick finished 30th in her No. 10 GoDaddy.com car.

Related: Story behind the name: Crown Royal presents The Samuel Deeds 400 At The Brickyard Powered by BigMachineRecords.com

Winning at the World’s Greatest Racecourse, in his state, is a dream come true for the South Bend, Ind. native. He graduated from South Bend La-Salle High School in 1996 and then Purdue University in 2001. Fitting that pace car driver Sage Steele of ESPN and Newman both attended high school and college in the state.

The win is a confidence booster for Newman, as it was announced just a few weeks ago that he would not be back with Stewart-Haas Racing next season. This win should help attract a sponsor and thus help landing a ride with another team.

Newman is the third driver to win this race from the pole, joining Kevin Harvick (2003) and Johnson (2008). It’s his 17th Sprint Cup Series victory. He had won the Daytona 500 (2008), and now, the Indiana boy, has captured his first Brickyard 400.

Stat of note: A Chevrolet engine has ended up in Victory Lane in 11 straight Brickyard 400s.

[Photo via Pete Howard, Bret Kelley/IMS Media]