LONG POND, Pa., July 25 (UPI) -- Ryan Newman was the only driver to top 170 miles per hour Friday at Pocono Raceway and captured the pole for the Pennsylvania 500.
Newman averaged 170.358 mph in a Dodge Intrepid, covering the 2 1/2-mile tri-oval in 52.830 seconds to score his fifth pole this year and 12th career. His most recent pole came two races ago at Chicago.
Newman reversed June's Pocono 500 front-row qualifying with Jimmie Johnson, who was second in a Chevrolet Monte Carlo at 169.821 mph. Johnson won the pole for the Pocono 500.
Tony Stewart, who holds the track qualifying mark of 172.391 mph set in 2000, was just 33rd in the session.
Elliott Sadler was third in a Ford Taurus for his 11th top-10 start this year, including both events here.
