Qualifying for the Irwin Tools Night Race
STEWART-HAAS RACING
Qualifying for the Irwin Tools Night Race
Date: Aug. 26, 2011
Event: Qualifying for the Irwin Tools Night Race (Round 24 of 36)
Series: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Location: Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway (.533-mile oval)
Pole Winner: Ryan Newman of Stewart-Haas Racing (15.624 seconds at 122.811 mph)
SHR Lineup: Ryan Newman (1st, 15.624 seconds at 122.811 mph)
Tony Stewart (42nd, 16.485 seconds at 116.397 mph)
Ryan Newman, driver of the No. 39 Bass Pro Shops/Realtree Chevrolet Impala, led the two-car Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) contingent in time trials at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway by winning the pole for Saturday’s Irwin Tools Night Race NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event. Newman turned a lap of 15.624 seconds at 122.811 mph on the .533-mile oval.
It is Newman’s 48th career Sprint Cup pole, his second of the season and his third at Bristol. He remains 10th on the all-time pole-winners list but is now just one pole behind Bobby Isaac who occupies the ninth spot.
“This is huge,” said Newman, who has 11 top-10 finishes in 19 career Sprint Cup starts at Bristol. “I’m happy for everyone at Bass Pro Shops, Realtree, the U.S. Army, Tornados, Haas Automation and Chevrolet. We’re in a great starting spot and we’ve got a great pit stall. I’m just looking forward to the race.”
Tony Stewart, driver of the No. 14 Bass Pro Shops/Office Depot Chevrolet Impala for SHR, will start 42nd after turning a lap of 16.485 seconds at 116.397 mph.
“Obviously we’re not happy with our lap,” said Stewart, who won at Bristol in August 2001. “Really proud of Ryan and the guys on the 39 car. They put down a great lap.”
Carl Edwards (15.642 seconds at 122.670 mph) qualified second, while Matt Kenseth (15.643 seconds at 122.662 mph), Jeff Gordon (15.654 seconds at 122.576 mph) and Mark Martin (15.658 seconds at 122.544 mph) rounded out the top-five.
Forty-six drivers attempted to qualify for the Irwin Tools Night Race. Those not making the cut in the 43-car field were T.J. Bell, J.J. Yeley, and Jeff Green.
As far as manufacturers went, Chevrolet took the top spot with Newman’s pole-winning run. Ford was next best via Edwards’ second starting spot, while Dodge was the third-best make thanks to eighth-quick Brad Keselowski (15.683 seconds at 122.349 mph). Ninth-quick Joey Logano (15.688 seconds at 122.310 mph) carried the flag for Toyota.
The Irwin Tools Night Race gets underway at 7:30 p.m. EDT on Saturday with live coverage provided by ABC beginning with its pre-race show at 7 p.m.
-SHR-
