Newman Wins Pole with Track Record

Newman knows a victory Saturday night would go a long way toward closing the gap and getting him back in the race for the title. Newman will start first in the UAW-GM Quality 500 after shattering the track record with a lap at 188.877 mph.

Newman's lap beat the track record of 187.052 that Jimmie Johnson set here in May - a lap that erased the record Newman had held.

"I told my wife I wanted it back," he said.