Newman, Steve McQueen, and James Garner were considered to be the real racing drivers of the acting world. There were others who were just considered posers.
Newman was also a racing team owner - Newman-Haas Racing, if anybody follows Indy Cars.
He recently gave one of his lifelong friends his latest Ferrari - the super expensive 599 V12 model. There are rumors that his children were complaining about this - I think I would have shut up instead.
BTW, those Salad Dressing and other food products that he produced were all done for various charities - he kept nothing from the profits.
Of the many great movies he did, I think I would have to rank "The Hustler" as my favorite.