Loudon qualifying notes

Newman Takes New Hampshire 100 Pole
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Driver Earns Pole First Time In A Modified

LOUDON, N.H. (Sept. 11, 2008) -- Making his NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour debut at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series veteran Ryan Newman earned the Coors Light Pole Award in qualifying for the New Hampshire 100 Thursday.

Newman, who has 43 Coors Light Pole Awards to his credit during his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career, wasted no time in getting one under his belt in a Modified. After turning the fastest lap in practice Thursday afternoon in his first time strapped into the No. 7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet, Newman posted the quickest lap in qualifying at 29.658 seconds (127.453 mph).

Chuck Hossfeld (No. 4 Mystic Missile Dodge), who won the New England 100 at New Hampshire on June 28, will join Newman on the front row for Saturday's race following his qualifying effort of 29.745 seconds (127.080 mph).

Rounding out the top five qualifiers on Thursday were Jimmy Blewett, Eric Beers and Bobby Grigas III. Series points leader Ted Christopher qualified 12th for Saturday's 100-lap race.

Green flag for the New Hampshire 100 is set for Saturday at approximately 1 p.m., with the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series' Camping World RV Rental 200 Driven by Winnebago Industries to follow. For ticket information, please visit New Hampshire's official Web site (nhms.com).

-credit: nascar