Even though he failed to win for a second straight year, Newman was one of the most reliable drivers in 2015. He recorded four top-fives and 12 top-10s with an average finish of 13.8. The only reason he didn't finish higher in the standings was due to a 50-point penalty his team incurred in the spring for doctoring tires.
Implementing the same formula of week-to-week consistency with no disastrous finishes that almost won him the Sprint Cup last season, Newman again plays the role of Cinderella.
Incapable of evading poor results and not able to overcome them via winning, Newman's Chase ends far sooner than it did last season.
If everything breaks his way, Newman is solid enough to linger a couple of brackets. But to expect good fortune two years in a row is asking a lot, and it's why he's done after a single round.