LOUDON, N.H. — Stewart-Haas Racing finally gets top billing.
Ryan Newman won his 47th career pole, turning a track-record lap of 135.232 mph Friday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, and Tony Stewart was second to give SHR its first front-row sweep.
Stewart was right behind his employee and teammate at 135.064.
Newman won his first pole of the season in the No. 39 Chevrolet, a far cry from the 20 combined poles he earned in 2003-04. Those pole positions early in his career helped boost his total and he’s now 10th on the career poles list, including a record five poles at New Hampshire.
“It works,” he said. “It’s like making good macaroni and cheese. Sometimes, it just tastes good. I don’t know what the entire chemistry is, but I like it.”
IndyCar team’s suspension upheld
INDIANAPOLIS — IndyCar officials upheld suspensions issued to Indy Lights team O2 Racing Technology and team owner Mark Olson after an appeal, and they remain banned from the series through the end of 2012.
Olson was suspended for allegedly encouraging others to breach contracts with IndyCar and withdraw from the Indy Lights race in Milwaukee last month.
Pastrana branching out.
X Games star Travis Pastrana finished 22nd in a NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race at Loudon.
The action-sports star formed a team called Pastrana-Waltrip Racing, with Michael Waltrip and Gary and Blake Bechtel. Pastrana is set to make his debut in the Nationwide Series later this year.
