Ryan Newman streaks to Bristol pole

Ryan Newman streaks to Bristol pole

 

By Reid Spencer
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service

 

(August 26, 2011)

 

BRISTOL, Tenn.—Ryan Newman sped around .533-mile Bristol Motor Speedway, billed as the world’s fastest half mile, at 122.811 mph (15.624 seconds) to win the pole for Saturday’s Irwin Tools Night Race, the 24th NASCAR Sprint Cup event of the season.

 

Newman edged Roush Fenway Racing drivers Carl Edwards (122.670 mph) and Matt Kenseth (122.662 mph) Friday to claim his second Coors Light pole award of the season and the 48th of his career. Hendrick Motorsports teammates Jeff Gordon (122.576 mph) and Mark Martin (122.544 mph) will start from positions four and five, respectively.

 

Remarkably, Newman and Stewart-Haas Racing teammate Tony Stewart were at opposite ends of the spectrum, with Stewart posting the slowest qualifying lap in the session (116.397 mph). Stewart, winless this season, is fighting to keep the 10th position in the Sprint Cup standings.

 

J.J. Yeley, T.J. Bell and Jeff Green failed to qualify for the 43-car field.