Newman claims Lenox 300 pole

LOUDON, N.H. -- Ryan Newman won the pole Friday at New Hampshire International Speedway. No kidding.

Newman winning NASCAR Nextel Cup poles used to be such a regular occurrence that it was surprising when he didn't get the job done in qualifying.

He came into the 2006 season with 35 poles in his first five seasons -- far more than any other Cup driver during the same period. But NASCAR's "Rocketman" has fizzled most of this season, winning just one pole in the first 18 races.

Worse, his performance in the races has been just as disappointing. Newman, who has never finished outside the top 10 in his Cup career, is 18th in the points and all but eliminated from contention for the Chase for the championship.

"It's been very difficult, frustrating," Newman said after posting a lap of 129.683 mph in Friday's qualifying.

Jeff Burton was the runner-up at 129.651, followed by Brian Vickers at 129.626, Kyle Busch at 129.485, defending race winner Tony Stewart at 129.024, series points leader Jimmie Johnson at 128.994 and Jeff Gordon, last week's winner at Chicagoland Speedway, at 128.976.