The Story Hollywood Never Told About Paul Newman

Adam Carolla joins Morning Wire hosts John Bickley and Georgia Howe to discuss his documentary Winning: The Racing Life of Paul Newman, now streaming on Daily Wire+. The film details the actor's 35-year racing career, which began in his late 40s and became a defining passion, often overshadowing his Hollywood work.

Newman's Late Start and Racing Achievements

Paul Newman entered professional racing around age 48, drawn in after portraying a racer in the 1969 film Winning. Despite the late start, he competed for nearly four decades, racing until near the end of his life. He won four national championships as a driver: two in GT1, one in C Sedan, and one in D Sedan. These victories spanned smaller, underpowered cars early on and faster turbocharged models later.

As his career progressed, Newman shifted toward team ownership. He partnered with Carl Haas on an IndyCar team, winning eight championships as an owner, though he focused on sports car and road racing himself rather than IndyCar events. Later, he raced selectively in endurance events like the 24 Hours of Daytona and 12 Hours of Sebring, prioritizing points-earning consistency for championships—racing all required events in a season was essential, as partial participation disqualified drivers from overall titles.