Newman wins fourth straight NASCAR pole

PHOENIX, Nov. 5 (UPI) -- Ryan Newman won his fourth consecutive NASCAR pole and his ninth of the season Friday, qualifying fastest for Sunday's Checker Auto Parts 500.

Newman turned in a time of 26.499 for a lap around the Phoenix International Raceway -- a speed of 135.854 mph. He broke the track record set four years ago by Rusty Wallace.

It was Newman's third track record in four weeks. There have been 16 NASCAR races in Phoenix and no one has won one from the pole.

Brian Vickers qualified second, followed by Joe Nemechek, Kasey Kahne and Kevin Harvick.

Championship points leader Kurt Busch qualified only 28th in the 43-car field. Jimmie Johnson, who moved within 59 points of Busch last week, will start 13th.