Newman wins pole for Coca Cola 600

CONCORD, N.C., May 26 (UPI) -- Ryan Newman, one of the best qualifying drivers in the history of NASCAR, won the pole Thursday for Sunday night's running of the Coca Cola 600.

It was the fourth pole of the year for Newman and the 31st of his career. He has won the pole in 24 percent of the races he has run in NASCAR's major series.

He traveled the 1.5-mile Lowe's Motor Speedway in 27.981 seconds -- 192.988 miles per hour. Newman set a lap record by more than half a second as 22 drivers broke the old mark.

Jeff Gordon qualified second in 28.136 seconds, followed by Matt Kenseth and Kasey Kahne. Points leader Jimmie Johnson was fifth fastest.