Qualifying times: Checker Auto Parts 500.
Ryan Newman kept up his strong qualifying form with his fourth NASCAR pole position in a row, smashing the record at the one-mile Phoenix International Raceway with a 135.499mph lap in qualifying for Sunday's Checker Auto Parts 500. Hendrick Motorsports rookie Brian Vickers will start alongside Newman, while Vickers' team-mate Jeff Gordon qualified highest of the leading four title contenders in eighth. Rivals Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr line up 13th and 14th, while championship leader Kurt Busch will have to come off 28th spot.
Ryan Newman kept up his strong qualifying form with his fourth NASCAR pole position in a row, smashing the record at the one-mile Phoenix International Raceway with a 135.499mph lap in qualifying for Sunday's Checker Auto Parts 500. Hendrick Motorsports rookie Brian Vickers will start alongside Newman, while Vickers' team-mate Jeff Gordon qualified highest of the leading four title contenders in eighth. Rivals Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr line up 13th and 14th, while championship leader Kurt Busch will have to come off 28th spot.
The race starts at around 3pm Eastern Time on Sunday, 8pm in the UK. Stay with Crash.net for the full story.
Qualifying times; Checker Auto Parts 500, Phoenix International Raceway, Arizona 2004 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series round 34 of 36.
1. Ryan Newman #12 ALLTEL/TXT2WIN MVP Sweepstakes Dodge Penske Racing 135.854mph
2. Brian Vickers * #25 GMAC Financial Services Chevrolet Hendrick Motorsports 133.879mph
3. Joe Nemechek #01 US Army Chevrolet MB2 Motorsports 133.645mph
4. Kasey Kahne *#9 Dodge Dealers/UAW DodgeEvernham Motorsports 133.581mph
5. Kevin Harvick #29 GM Goodwrench Chevrolet Richard Childress Racing 133.437mph
6. Tony Stewart #20 Home Depot Chevrolet Joe Gibbs Racing133.432mph
7. Casey Mears #41 Target DodgeChip Ganassi Racing 133.304mph
8. Jeff Gordon #24 DuPont Chevrolet Hendrick Motorsports 133.116mph
9. Elliott Sadler #38 Pedigree Ford Robert Yates Racing 133.111mph
10. Jamie McMurray #42 Texaco Havoline Dodge Chip Ganassi Racing 133.087mph
11. Scott Riggs * #10 Valvoline Chevrolet MBV Motorsports 132.998mph
12. Jeff Green #43 Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge Petty Enterprises 132.900mph
13. Jimmie Johnson #48 Lowe's Chevrolet Hendrick Motorsports132.876mph
14. Dale Earnhardt Jr. #8 Budweiser Chevrolet Dale Earnhardt Incorporated 132.836mph
15. Rusty Wallace #2 Miller Lite Dodge Penske Racing 132.714mph
16. Matt Kenseth #17 DeWalt Power Tools Ford Roush Racing 132.548mph
17. Robby Gordon #31 Cingular Wireless Chevrolet Richard Childress Racing 132.523mph
18. Ken Schrader #49 Schwan's Home Service Dodge BAM Racing 132.489mph
19. Michael Waltrip #15 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet Dale Earnhardt Incorporated 132.436mph
20. Jeff Burton # 30 America Online Chevrolet Richard Childress Racing 132.261mph
21. John Andretti #14 VB/APlus at Sunoco FordPPC Motorsports 132.173mph
22. Mark Martin # 6 Viagra Ford Roush Racing 132.105mph
23. Greg Biffle #16 National Guard FordRoush Racing 132.057mph
24. Jeremy Mayfield #19 Dodge Dealers/UAW DodgeEvernham Motorsports 131.965mph
25. Ricky Rudd #21 Motorcraft FordWood Brothers Racing 131.825mph
26. Dale Jarrett #88 UPS Ford Robert Yates Racing 131.781mph
27. Bobby Labonte #18 Interstate Batteries Chevrolet Joe Gibbs Racing 131.752mph
28. Kurt Busch #97 IRWIN Industrial Tools FordRoush Racing 131.675mph
29. Carl Edwards #99 Roush Racing Ford Roush Racing 131.641mph
30. Johnny Sauter #09 Miccosukee Gaming & Resorts Dodge Phoenix Racing 131.416mph
31. Terry Labonte #5 "The Incredibles"/Kellogg's ChevroletHendrick Motorsports 131.358mph
32. Bobby Hamilton Jr #32 Tide ChevroletPPI Motorsports 131.219mph
33. Mike Wallace #4 Lucas Oil Products Chevrolet Morgan-McClure Racing 131.133mph
34. Kyle Petty #45 Georgia Pacific/Brawny DodgePetty Enterprises 131.000mph
35. Sterling Marlin #40 Coors Light Dodge Chip Ganassi Racing 130.795mph
36. Todd Bodine #50 Arnold Development Companies Dodge Arnold Racing 130.724mph
37. Kevin Lepage #137 Carter Racing Dodge Carter Racing 130.558mph
38. Scott Wimmer * #22 Caterpillar Dodge Bill Davis Racing 130.421mph
39. Ward Burton # 0 Netzero HiSpeed ChevroletHaas CNC Racing 130.039mph (provisional)
40. Brendan Gaughan * #77 Kodak/Jasper Engines DodgePenske/Jasper Racing 130.293mph (provisional)
41. Randy LaJoie #198 Airaid Premium Filters Ford William Edwards 130.133mph (provisional)
42. Hermie Sadler #02 Treasure Island-Las Vegas Chevrolet SCORE Motorsports 128.594mph (provisional)
43. Morgan Shepherd #89 Racing with Jesus/Red Line Oil Dodge Cindy Shepherd 127.900mph (provisional)
Did not qualify
44. Mike Garvey #275 Jani-King Dodge Haefele Motorsport 130.317mph
45. Tony Raines #251 Marathon/Chase Chevrolet Joe Auer 130.142mph
46. Stanton Barrett #194 TBA Chevrolet David Watson 128.908mph
47. Mario Gosselin #280 Commercial Truck & Trailer FordHover Motorsports 128.009mph
48. Ryan McGlynn #200 Buyers Choice Auto Warranties Chevrolet 127.578mph
49. Geoffrey Bodine #293 Quality Plus Service Chevrolet Pat Whitener no time
50. Kirk Shelmerdine #172 Freddie B's Ford Kirk Shelmerdine no time
* Rookie of the Year contender.
