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Will Ryan Newman and Richard Childress be together next season?

Sprint Unlimited - Practice

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 14: Team owner Richard Childress speaks with Ryan Newman, driver of the #31 Caterpillar Chevrolet, in the garage area during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Sprint Unlimited at Daytona International Speedway on February 14, 2014 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images)

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WELCOME, N.C. — Ryan Newman and car owner Richard Childress both offered little on Newman’s future with Richard Childress Racing on Wednesday.

Newman signed a three-year contact to drive for the team beginning with the 2014 season. This is Newman’s third year with the organization.

No extension on Newman’s contract has been announced. With RCR at three cars and Ty Dillon, Childress’ grandson, on the path to move to Cup, the question is what RCR’s driver lineup will be next year if it doesn’t find sponsorship to expand to four cars.

“I’ll keep doing this as long as somebody wants me to do it and it’s fun doing it,’’ Newman said of his future.

Asked about next year’s driver lineup, Childress said: “We’re not looking at anything right now. We’ve got to focus and focus hard on trying to go out and win races. That’s our No. 1 focus right now.’’

Richard Childress Racing last won a Sprint Cup race in 2013.

Although Newman has yet to win at RCR, he finished second in the points in 2014 and was 11th last year. He enters this weekend’s race at Dover International Speedway 17th in the points.

He blew a tire late at Atlanta and finished 24th. A melted bead caused Newman’s tire to go down and he crashed at Phoenix, finishing 39th. He placed 28th at Talladega after being involved in a 21-car crash.

“Some of that is bad racing luck, some of that is self-inflicted,’’ Newman said.

Other than those finishes, Newman has finished between seventh and 18th this season.

Newman, who has 17 career Cup wins, is focused on snapping his 99-race winless streak.

“That’s what we’re working on is winning races,’’ he said. “It’s important for our sponsors that we get at least one win and hopefully can knock off two or three once we make it in the Chase and have a successful season again.’’

Will winning change if he is back at RCR?

“I have no idea,’’ Newman said.

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