Elliott Sadler will start third Sunday at Atlanta. Credit: Autostock

Newman on pole again at Atlanta; Busch mid-pack

HAMPTON, Ga. -- Though the Nextel Cup championship is no longer a realistic possibility for Ryan Newman, the season's Bud Pole Award is within his grasp. For the third consecutive race, Newman was the last man standing in the battle for the top starting spot -- this time, for Sunday's Bass Pro Shops/MBNA 500.

Ryan Newman Credit: Autostock

It was Newman's eighth pole of the season, two better than Jeff Gordon, and if Newman can win another pole in the final three races of the season, the $100,000 paid to the season-long pole champion will be his for the second straight year.

For the first time in these last three races, Newman left the existing track record intact. His lap at 28.939 seconds, 191.575 miles per hour was good enough to knock Joe Nemechek off the pole, and he came within a whisker of matching his practice-best 28.913, 191.748-mph lap. His fourth consecutive pole in six starts at Atlanta lowered an already gaudy average starting position of 2.200 to 2.000. His worst start here is sixth. He also averages a 12.800 finish here.

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Elliott Sadler, driving his Halloween-themed M&Ms Ford, was third fastest at 29.014, 191.080 mph. Sadler, who was eighth after practice, equaled his previous best start here on the way to his fourth straight top-six start at AMS. His average start here is 20.636, and his average finish a slightly spooky 22.454, but he has 10 top-eight starts in the last 15 races this season and eight top-10 finishes over that same span.

Dale Earnhardt Jr., who was a respectable 11th in practice, picked up nearly three-tenths of a second to qualify his Chevrolet sixth. His lap at 29.198, 189.876 mph gave the spring race winner another solid start. He averages 13.600 in starting position and finishes an average of 10.200. He has a victory, a pole, four top-fives and six top-10s in 10 starts at AMS.

Mark Martin, the most experienced of the Chasers at Atlanta with 37 starts, was a close second to Newman in practice, but fell short when it came time to qualify. He wound up seventh at 29.219, 189.740 mph. In those 37 starts, Martin has averaged 10.621 in starts and 17.108 in finishes with 12 DNFs through the years. He has a pole here, has won twice and logged nine top-five and 17 top-10 finishes.

Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon Credit: Autostock

Hendrick Motor Sports teammates Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon wound up eighth and 10th, respectively, despite an emotionally trying week for both men.

Johnson, coming off two straight victories, logged a lap at 29.256 seconds, 189.500 mph for eighth, while Gordon was a tick behind in 10th at 29.290, 189.280. Johnson, who averages 10.166 for starts and 15.500 for finishes, was 15th in practice but picked up .263 seconds in qualifying. Gordon was sixth in practice and picked up a smidge in qualifying, but it wasn't enough to earn his second career pole here. Gordon's average start here is 13.500, and his average finish, despite four victories, 10 top-fives and 15 top-10s, is 12.583. However, should he lead 25 laps here on Sunday, he will pass 1,000 for his career at Atlanta.

Jeremy Mayfield wound up 11th after practicing 16th quick, picking up nearly a quarter-second between the two. Mayfield, whose average start is 17.111 and average finish is 21.176, logged in at 29.307, 189.170.

Tony Stewart, also affected by the tragic plane crash of last week, will start 15th after practicing ninth. Stewart's lap at 29.374, 188.738 was faster by a tick than his practice lap, and his starting spot was nearly two better than his average of 15.818. Stewart, who has won here, averages 13.909 for finishing position. In 11 starts, he has four top-fives and six top-10s here, but he also has three DNFs.

Kurt Busch Credit: Autostock

Series point leader Kurt Busch was 22nd, which was five spots below his average (16.857). Ironically, Busch's finishing average is 16.857 as well. His lap of 29.533, 187.722 was a tenth and change faster than his 22nd-best practice speed. His lone top-five finish in seven starts here was a victory, and he has three top-10s to go with it.

Matt Kenseth, the defending series champion, suffered more than usual in qualifying, logging in 41st with a lap at 29.942, 185.158 mph. He took a provisional starting spot and will roll off 39th. Kenseth has traditionally not set the world on fire in qualifying (24.444 average), and he was 32nd after practice, but as usual, he finishes better than he starts (15.222 finishing average). He has two top-fives and five top-10s in nine starts here, with his best finish a fourth-place effort.