Newman finally wins another pole

Loudon, New Hampshire:

Ryan Newman won his second pole of the season on Friday, capturing the No. 1 starting spot for the NASCAR Lenox Industrial Tools 300. Newman winning NASCAR Nextel Cup poles used to be such a regular occurrence that it was surprising when he didn't get the job done in qualifying. He came into the 2006 season with 35 poles in his first five seasons - far more than any other Cup driver during the same period. But NASCAR's "Rocketman" has fizzled most of this season, winning just one pole in the first 18 races. Worse, his performance in the races has been just as disappointing. Newman, who has never finished outside the top 10 in his Cup career, is 18th in the points and all but eliminated from contention for the Chase for the championship. "It's been very difficult, frustrating," Newman said after posting a lap of 29.370 seconds on the 1.7-km New Hampshire International Speedway oval in Friday's qualifying. Jeff Burton was the runner-up at 29.377 seconds, followed by Brian Vickers at 29.383, Kyle Busch at 29.415, defending race winner Tony Stewart at 29.520, series points leader Jimmie Johnson at 29.527 and Jeff Gordon, last week's winner at Chicagoland Speedway, at 29.531. (AP)