NASCAR, #12 Ryan Newman’s father Greg Newman does want Purdue University to garner any publicity or benefit from Ryan’s Daytona 500 $1.5 million winnings. Ryan graduated from Purdue in 2001 with degree in vehicle structural engineering, one of his father’s prerequisite to support his racing aspirations. Ryan won the 1999 U.S. Auto Club Silver Crown title while attending Purdue.

The University never recognized Ryan as a student-athlete and he was never cut any flexibility with his assignments but now they do, Purdue assistant athletic director Tom Schott said he wasn't sure how to respond to the elder Newman's complaints. "We have 18 varsity sports here, but we don't have varsity auto racing," Schott said.