CONCORD, N.C. - There were no surprises at Lowe's Motor Speedway, where Ryan Newman won his series-best eighth pole of the season Thursday night.
Driver after driver posted qualifying laps for the UAW-GM Quality 500 with few expectations of any of the top speeds holding up through Newman's late run.
Jeff Gordon held down the top spot most of the session, but was bumped when Newman set a track record with a lap at 186.657 mph in the No. 12 Dodge.
"We unloaded off the truck really, really fast and expected to go even faster," Newman said. "I gave everything I had the second lap and I really had to hang on."
Gordon ran 186.207 to qualify second. Jimmie Johnson, his teammate at Hendrick Motorsports, qualified third at 185.497 mph.
Winston Cup points leader Matt Kenseth had another poor qualifying run, placing 29th in the No. 17 Ford.
LITTLE TREES 300: Kevin Harvick won the pole for tonight's Busch series race at Lowe's Motor Speedway, his fourth this season for Richard Childress Racing.
Harvick got around the 11/2-mile oval at 184.313 mph. Brian Vickers ran 183.755 for second, followed by Mike Bliss, Greg Biffle and Ron Hornaday. David Green, the series points leader, will line up seventh.
BURTON GETS JOB: It didn't take Ward Burton long to find a new ride. He was hired Thursday to drive the No. 0 Pontiac for Haas CNC Racing.
Bill Davis Racing said Wednesday that Burton, a five-time winner, would get out of the No. 22 Dodge after next weekend's race at Martinsville, Va., and be replaced by Scott Wimmer. Burton will run the final four races of this season and all of next year for Haas.
Jason Leffler has been driving the No. 0 since August, but will move to a Busch series team Haas will field next season.
A DONE DEAL: Dale Earnhardt Jr. said he has ironed out the details on a new five-year deal to continue driving the No. 8 Chevrolet for Dale Earnhardt Inc. It's his first official contract with the team, owned by his stepmother, Teresa.
JAPANESE GRAND PRIX: Jacques Villeneuve will not drive Sunday in the season-ending race at Suzuka, ending his unsuccessful run with British American Racing.[Last modified October 10, 2003, 02:04:01]
