Riggs wins first NASCAR pole

MARTINSVILLE, Va., April 8 (UPI) -- Scott Riggs won the first pole of his Nextel Cup career Friday at the Martinsville Speedway.

Riggs covered the .528-mile oval in 19.588 seconds. He had never started better than fourth in a Nextel Cup race.

Ryan Newman will start on the outside of the first row while Jeremy Mayfield and Rusty Wallace will make up the second row. Wallace has won at Martinsville seven times.

Sunday's race will mark the second straight week the circuit has raced on a short track.

Kevin Harvick won last week at Bristol, Tenn., and will start fifth on Sunday.

Points leader Jimmie Johnson was a disappointing 37th quickest Friday.