HOMESTEAD, Fla. — Ryan Newman is the underdog — minus the darling — of NASCAR's final four, making a mockery of the revamped playoff format that was supposed to put a premium on winning. He is the odd man in NASCAR's finale in south Florida Sunday, the party crasher that few have embraced, trying to stick around for the confetti, the fireworks, and the champagne toast. This interloper makes no apologies for working the system or for using a last-lap push to get just enough points to edge out popular four-time champ Jeff Gordon.