EWMAN STARTS 16TH AT TALLADEGA IN FIRST COT RACE AT THE SUPERSPEEDWAY

In a qualifying session Saturday that was dominated by Toyotas and teams outside the top 35 in owner points, Ryan Newman, driver of the No. 12 Alltel Dodge Avenger, made his way into the 16th starting position for Sunday’s UAW-Ford 500 at Talladega Superspeedway.

Newman, who went out 43rd among the 51 cars attempting to qualify, recorded a lap time of 51.301 seconds, 0.653 second behind pole sitter Michael Waltrip.

“The lap was better than I thought we would have based off of what we did yesterday,” Newman said about his lap on the 2.66-mile track. “It gives us something to work with for tomorrow. I think it is entirely a random crap shoot. Our car is made to go fast for 500 miles tomorrow, not for one lap today.”

The top-10 qualifiers were all cars outside the top 35, but only eight of them made it into the race. Newman was 22nd fastest when the final car took the checkered flag to end qualifying, but moved up to 16th after six cars in front of him were sent home due to not qualifying on time.

Coverage of Sunday’s UAW-Ford 500 from Talladega will be broadcast by ABC and MRN Radio beginning at 1 p.m. EDT.

Line-up for the UAW-Ford 500:
1. Michael Waltrip, No. 55 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota
2. Dave Blaney, No. 22 Caterpillar Toyota
3. Brian Vickers, No. 83 Red Bull Toyota
4. Joe Nemechek, No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet
5. David Reutimann, No. 00 Burger King Toyota
16. Ryan Newman, No. 12 Alltel Dodge
41. Kurt Busch, No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge