Newman wins seventh Bud Pole of season

Ryan Newman isn't giving in to the notion that the first five races of NASCAR's 10-race championship playoff have essentially turned the last five into a three-way race for the title.

Newman led the way on the newly resurfaced Martinsville Speedway on Friday as 17 drivers broke the track qualifying record, turning a lap at 97.043 mph to win his Nextel Cup Series-high seventh pole of the season.

Tony Stewart's mark of 95.371 mph had stood since 2000.