Sylvania 300 Qualifying Report
STEWART-HAAS RACING
Sylvania 300 Qualifying Report
Date: Sept. 23, 2011
Event: Sylvania 300 (Round 28 of 36)
Series: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Location: New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon (1.058-mile oval)
Pole Winner: Ryan Newman of Stewart-Haas Racing (28.213 seconds at 135.002 mph)
SHR Lineup: Ryan Newman (1st, 28.213 seconds at 135.002 mph)
Tony Stewart (20th, 28.542 seconds at 133.445 mph)
Ryan Newman, driver of the No. 39 Haas Automation Chevrolet Impala, led the two-car Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) contingent in time trials at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon by qualifying on the pole for Sunday’s Sylvania 300 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. Newman turned a lap of 28.213 seconds at 135.002 mph on the 1.058-mile oval.
The fast time gave Newman a sweep of the poles this year at New Hampshire, for in the series’ July stop at the Magic Mile, he set a new track record with a lap of 28.165 seconds at 135.232 mph.
This is Newman’s 49th career Sprint Cup pole, his third of the season and his series-best sixth at New Hampshire. He is now tied for ninth on the all-time Sprint Cup pole list with Bobby Isaac.
“Really proud of the team to back up what we did here in qualifying in the spring race and give the Haas Automation Chevy a good starting spot,” said Newman, who in July won from the pole at Loudon. “Mobil 1 is really making all the aspects of our racecars efficient. Their motor oil, gear oil, power steering fluid, chassis lubricants – all of it combines to make days like this possible.”
This is the eighth pole for SHR, with Newman delivering the last one on Aug. 26 at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway, four races ago.
Tony Stewart, driver of the No. 14 Mobil 1/Office Depot Chevrolet Impala for SHR, will start 20th after turning a lap of 28.542 seconds at 133.445 mph.
“Just loose all the way around, but I still think we have a good car for the race,” said Stewart, who finished second behind his teammate Newman in July. “Really proud of Ryan and everyone on the ‘39’ team for getting another pole. Between our win last weekend at Chicagoland and Ryan’s pole run today, we’ve got some good things happening here at Stewart-Haas Racing.”
Trailing Newman in qualifying was second-quick Kasey Kahne (28.263 seconds at 134.763 mph). Brian Vickers was third (28.287 seconds at 134.648 mph), while Greg Biffle (28.300 seconds at 134.587 mph) and Kurt Busch (28.343 seconds at 134.382 mph) rounded out the top-five.
Forty-five drivers attempted to qualify for the Sylvania 300. Those not making the cut in the 43-car field were Steve Park and T.J. Bell.
Qualifying turned out to be a model of parity as all four makes qualified within the top-five. Chevrolet took the top spot via Newman’s pole-winning run. Toyota was next best at the hands of Red Bull Racing teammates Kahne and Vickers. Ford was the third-fastest make thanks to Biffle. Busch carried the flag for Dodge.
The Sylvania 300 gets underway at 2 p.m. EDT on Sunday with live coverage provided by ESPN beginning with its pre-race show at 1 p.m.
-SHR-
