‘Rocket Man’ Ryan Newman Looks to Claim Atlanta Motor Speedway’s All-Time Pole Rec

Hampton, Ga.
Oct 08, 2007

NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series driver Ryan Newman will attempt to become the driver with the most pole positions in Atlanta Motor Speedway history this Oct. 26 during Georgia-Pacific Qualifying night.

 

Newman and NASCAR legend Buddy Baker are currently tied with seven AMS poles each, but Newman would like to see his number atop not only the scoring tower on Oct. 26, but also on top of the Atlanta Motor Speedway record book.

 

"It would be an honor to beat Buddy Baker in all-time poles at Atlanta Motor Speedway, " Newman said. "Atlanta is a place where I enjoy qualifying and I have a great record there. I am really looking forward to trying to claim the all-time qualifying record. "

 

If Newman were to claim the top-spot for the Oct. 28 Pep Boys Auto 500 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race, moving Baker to second-place, he would be de-throneing his friend and mentor.

 

"Buddy and I always drove the tracks backwards because it gives you a different perspective of entry and exit points, " Newman said. "It lets you know how to approach those points when you are going the right way. Its something we did at Atlanta when he was teaching me about the track and I have always qualified well there. "

 

Although Newman's remarkable qualifying attempts haven't always translated into great race finishes, his best was a fifth-place finish in 2004, Newman still loves the pure speed that Atlanta Motor Speedway offers.

 

"Atlanta wasn't ever intimidating to me as far as speed is concerned, " Newman said. "Even if you crash at full speed at Atlanta, you just have to go back and do it again. You always try to go wide open there. You have to go wide open to be competitive. "