NASCAR: MBNA Armed Forces Family 400

Here's a shocker -- Ryan Newman's on the pole. Newman won his second-consecutive pole position and fourth overall in 2003 by posting the best qualifying time on Friday for Sunday's MBNA Armed Forces Family 400 at Dover, Del. Newman will start alongside teammate Rusty Wallace. Jeremy Mayfield will start third, followed by points leader Matt Kenseth and last week's race winner Jimmie Johnson, who has been as hot as anyone in Cup.

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Top 10 Positions

Pos.....Driver.......... Car.......Make ......Speed/Qual.Status
1 Ryan Newman..... 12...... Dodge ......158.716 mph
2 Rusty Wallace .......2...... Dodge ......157.322 mph
3 Jeremy Mayfield... .9.......Dodge...... 157.198 mph
4 Matt Kenseth ........17 ......Ford........ 157.006 mph
5 Jimmie Johnson ....48 ......Chevy......156.651 mph
6 Sterling Marlin ......40...... Dodge..... 156.644 mph
7 Kurt Busch ...........97 .....Ford........ 156.631 mph
8 Terry Labonte ........5 ......Chevy...... 156.583 mph
9 Jeff Gordon..........24.......Chevy.......156.087 mph
10 Steve Park ........30 ......Chevy....... 156.033 mph

I think Rusty might take this one, he's long overdue!

I noticed Aegis' driver was in fourth. :tum:

Pole sitter Ryan Newman just took the checkered flag, they said he wasnt even born the last time a Dodge won a race at Dover Downs.

Oh well, at least Rusty's teammate won.

DOVER, Del. -- Victory eased the pain Ryan Newman felt after muscling a 3,400-pound stock car around the track for half the afternoon.

Newman lost his power steering, but not his determination, and held off Jeff Gordon to win Sunday at Dover International Speedway.

The victory in the MBNA 400 gave Newman what he hopes will be the momentum to move into contention in the Winston Cup points race. But he was cautious in his assessment of the future.

The victory was the first by a Dodge at Dover since Richard Petty in 1976. Dodge was out of the sport for 16 years before returning in 2001.

The winner's average speed was 106.896 in a race slowed nine times by caution for 68 laps. There were 16 lead changes among 10 drivers.

Rusty Wallace was sixth, followed by Kenseth, who now leads Dale Earnhardt Jr. by 171 points. Earnhardt finished 11th after being forced to start at the rear of the field because he wrecked his car in practice Saturday and used a backup.

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Next week: Pocono 500 at Pocono Raceway. That's only about 2 hours from here.

DOVER, Del. -- Jeff Gordon had an eventful Sunday at Dover International Speedway, where he finished second to Ryan Newman.

But Gordon didn't receive the attention for his determined run at the end, he got it for his spinout of Sterling Marlin earlier in the race.

Gordon was apologetic. Marlin was furious.

"The 24 got up under us and turned us around again,'' said Marlin, who wound up 35th. "That's twice in three races.

"It's getting kind of old. I don't know what's wrong with the 24, but we need to find out. You've got to give and take in this league, and he has done a lot of taking.''

Gordon called it a mistake, not an intentional act. He said his car might have hit the apron. He shot up toward the wall and caught the left rear of Marlin's Dodge.

Pocono this weekend!