NASCAR: Ryan Newman Captures Pole for Sunday's Pocono 500

For the first time in 20 years, Dale Jarrett will not be in the starting field at Pocono.

Ryan Newman Photo: penskeracing.com

LONG POND, PA - Story by: Dino Oberto

Courtesy: poconoraceway.com

“Rocket Man” Ryan Newman motored around the "Tricky Triangle" in a quick time of 52.922, for a speed of 170.062 mph earning him the pole position for Sunday’s Pocono 500.

Newman is on a roll as has won the last three poles and 41 in his career.

He will be joined on the front row by 2006 Pocono sensation Denny Hamlin who clocked in with a lap of 53.169.278, 169.278 mph.

“It was a good lap. It was smooth. The track picked up so much grip after practice that we totally bypassed the 53-second bracket. We went from a 54.18 to a 52.90. Part of that’s the race track and part of that is the guys stepping it up so much,” said Newman.

Dover winner Martin Truex, Jr., Kyle Busch and Clint Bowyer completed the top five with Tony Stewart, defending NASCAR Nextel Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne, Brian Vickers and Jeff Burton rounding out the top ten.

Newman, driving Roger Penske’s alltel Dodge, was the only driver able to eclipse the 170-mph barrier as he lucked out with some late afternoon cloud coverage around the sprawling 2.5 Pocono tri-oval that enabled him to pick up the necessary speed for the pole.

“I really didn’t know what was going on to be a good draw first of all. We were right in the middle of the pack,” said Newman. “We just happened to be a little late getting through the house and caught a good cloud.”

Newman will be seeking his third career Pocono triumph.

He won this race in 2003 and also copped an ARCA Series race in 2000 which was his first visit to Pocono.

Hamlin, who won both poles and 500-miles here last year, starts his third career Pocono race from the front row.

He added plenty of dramatics too as he was the 47th of 49 cars that took time and missed his shot at a third straight Pocono pole by a ½-second.

“Well, I definitely wasn’t as optimistic about qualifying this time as I was in the past, but I’ll tell you our car was really, really good in race trim. I’m real happy where we ended up and we definitely have a car that can win Sunday, said Hamlin.

Series point leader Jeff Gordon posted the 18th fastest lap.

For the first time in 20 years, Dale Jarrett will not be in the starting field at Pocono.

A three time winner, Jarrett could not muster enough speed to make the show.

Likewise for his teammate and car owner Michael Waltrip whose season of frustration carried over to the Tricky Triangle where he failed to make the grid yet again.

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