Newman wins New Hampshire pole in rain-delayed qualifying

Newman wins New Hampshire pole in rain-delayed qualifying

By Reid Spencer
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service

(September 22, 2011)

LOUDON, N.H.—Rain or no rain—it didn't matter to Ryan Newman, who won the pole for Sunday's Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, the second race in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.

After a rain delay halted Friday's qualifying session, Newman, the last driver to make an attempt, posted a lap at 135.002 mph (28.213 seconds) to knock Kasey Kahne (134.763 mph), who had preceded him on the track, out of the top spot.

The Coors Light Pole Award was Newman's third of the season and the 49th of his career. The driver of the No. 39 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet won the July race at New Hampshire from the pole.

Kahne's Red Bull Racing teammate, Brian Vickers, qualified before the rain delay, and his speed of 134.648 mph stood up for the third starting position. Greg Biffle (134.587 mph) will start fourth. Kurt Busch qualified fifth at 134.382 mph.

The session stalled with five cars left on the grid when Juan Pablo Montoya declined to take to the track for his qualifying lap in a light rain. Montoya sat on pit road, as did the four cars behind him, including the No. 48 Chevrolet of five-time defending champion Jimmie Johnson.

"Send out the 48, if he's so brave," Montoya said.

Instead, NASCAR sent out jet dryers, and though a light mist continued to fall, the track dried enough to resume the session. Montoya posted a lap that was 27th fastest at the time (31st after the end of the session)—and wasn't happy about it.

"Our car was fast enough to sit on the pole, and we're 27th," Montoya said. "It's a freaking joke."

Johnson followed with a lap fast enough to secure the 10th starting position. Chase leader Kevin Harvick, who holds a seven-point margin over Tony Stewart, will start sixth.