Dover, DE (Best E Casino) - Ryan Newman won the pole for Sunday's Autism Speaks 400 at the Dover International Speedway, his second consecutive pole victory. The No.12 Penske Racing Dodge circled the one mile "Monster Mile" oval in 23.541 seconds (152.925 m.p.h.).
The pole victory was Newman's third of the season and 40th of his Nextel Cup career. In just 201 starts, Newman's total of 40 wins puts him in a tie with Buddy Baker (701 starts) for 12th all-time. He can crack the top-10 all-time with just three more pole wins.
"We're just trying our best to get into Gatorade Victory Lane on Sunday," said Newman. "The entry is the toughest part and if you don't get the entry right you're not going to have the middle or the exit right."
Starting alongside Newman will be Dale Earnhardt Jr. who posted a second best time of 23.624 seconds.
"I just tried to hit all my marks and I knew we would get a good qualifying lap it...I haven't won one in a long time." said Earnhardt Jr. who last won a pole in 2002.
Bobby Labonte (23.637) and Kasey Kahne (23.678) will make up row two.
Other drivers of note and their starting positions: Carl Edwards (5th), points leader Jeff Gordon (6th), Jamie McMurray (8th), Jeff Burton (9th), Juan Montoya (16th), Matt Kenseth (17th) and Kevin Harvick (18th).
For the first time since the Daytona 500 (11 races ago), Michael Waltrip has qualified for a race. The No.55 NAPA Toyota qualified 23rd quickest.
Through the first 12 events of 2007, Chevrolet owns 11 wins. More to the point, Hendrick Motorsports leads the way with nine of the 11 Chevy victories, while Harvick (Daytona) and Burton (Texas) have the other two.
Only Kenseth's victory at California is keeping the "Bow-Tie" from a clean sweep. Kenseth also happens to be the defending champion in the Autism Speaks 400 at Dover International Speedway. He edged his Roush Fenway Ford teammate McMurray for the win.
A Ford-powered car has won this race the past three years. To be more specific, a Roush Ford has won the last three years - Kenseth in 2006, Greg Biffle in 2005 and Mark Martin in 2004.
The race is scheduled to drop the green flag on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. (et).
