The Associated Press

DOVER, Del. - Ryan Newman solidified his reputation as the fastest driver in NASCAR by winning his fourth pole of the season in qualifying Friday at Dover International Speedway.

It was the second straight top start and 11th overall for Newman, who again leads the Winston Cup circuit after posting a series-best seven last year.

He hustled his Penske Dodge around The Monster Mile in 22.682 seconds, turning a fast lap of 158.716 mph.

"We have lots of horsepower," Newman said, deferring credit to his crew. "It was a great team effort.

"The car unloaded off the truck very fast, and we didn't have to do too much with it. I just go out and drive the car for all it's worth."

Newman finished fifth after taking the top spot a week ago for the Coca-Cola 600, and on Sunday will be seeking his second victory this year and third of his career.

Starting second in Sunday's MBNA 400 will be teammate Rusty Wallace, who turned a lap of 157.322 mph. Neither came close to Wallace's 1999 track record of 159.964 mph or Bobby Labonte's event record of 159.320 mph that same year.

Despite his qualifying prowess, Newman has not lived up to expectations after being rookie of the year in 2002 and finishing sixth in the standings. He's 24th this year, in part because he has failed to finish four times.

But winning the pole after his performance Sunday at Lowe's Motor Speedway has Newman thinking positively.

"The way our season has been going, it's just starting to get going," he said.

Taking the outside pole was a big step for Wallace as he tries to end the worst slump of his career. If he can win Sunday, Wallace will stop a 74-race losing streak dating to April 2001.

Jeremy Mayfield gave Dodge the first three spots on the 43-car grid with a lap of 157.198.

Points leader Matt Kenseth goes from the fourth spot in a Ford off a lap of 157.006.

Jimmie Johnson, a winner the last two weeks at Lowe's Motor Speedway, qualified fifth in his bid to join teammate and car owner Jeff Gordon, David Pearson and Wallace as the only drivers to win three straight races at Dover. Johnson went 156.651 in a Chevrolet.

Sterling Marlin starts sixth, followed by Kurt Busch, Terry Labonte, Gordon and Steve Park.

BUSCH SERIES: Joe Nemechek added another pole to his glittering Busch series resume, taking the top spot with a qualifying record Friday at Dover International Speedway.

It was the third Busch pole this year and 17th overall for 1992 series champion Nemechek, a Winston Cup regular who also will race Sunday in NASCAR's top series. He'll try for his 15th Busch career win and third of 2003 today.

He likes his chances.

"This is a brand new race car we came up here with a few weeks ago and tested for a day, but all we did was race stuff, so qualifying was a feather in our caps," he said. "So we're pretty fast in race trim."

Nemechek put his Chevrolet on the pole with a run of 156.747 mph. That edged out Kasey Kahne, whose Ford had a fast lap of 155.750.

TRUCK SERIES: Jason Leffler got his first NASCAR truck series victory after dominant teammate Ted Musgrave blew his engine Friday at Dover International Speedway.

Musgrave, the defending champion, looked untouchable in the second half of the race but slowed after a puff of smoke came from the rear of his Dodge with 57 laps remaining in the MBNA 200.

Leffler, running second, assumed the lead in his Dodge and was never seriously threatened.

Winston Cup Lineup

MBNA Armed Forces Family 400, Friday qualifying; Sunday race

At Dover International Speedway, Dover, Del. (Car number in parentheses)

1. (12) Ryan Newman, Dodge, 158.716 mph

2. (2) Rusty Wallace, Dodge, 157.322 mph

3. (19) Jeremy Mayfield, Dodge, 157.198 mph

4. (17) Matt Kenseth, Ford, 157.006 mph

5. (48) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, 156.651 mph

6. (40) Sterling Marlin, Dodge, 156.644 mph

7. (97) Kurt Busch, Ford, 156.631 mph

8. (5) Terry Labonte, Chevrolet, 156.583 mph

9. (24) Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet, 156.087 mph

10. (30) Steve Park, Chevrolet, 156.033 mph

11. (20) Tony Stewart, Chevrolet, 156.027 mph

12.(8) Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chevrolet, 155.878 mph

13. (18) Bobby Labonte, Chevrolet, 155.858 mph

14. (9) Bill Elliott, Dodge, 155.858 mph

15. (16) Greg Biffle, Ford, 155.817 mph

16. (15) Michael Waltrip, Chevrolet, 155.655 mph

17. (38) Elliott Sadler, Ford, 155.581 mph

18. (01) Mike Wallace, Dodge, 155.400 mph

19. (42) Jamie McMurray, Dodge, 155.273 mph

20. (32) Ricky Craven, Pontiac, 155.092 mph

21. (54) Todd Bodine, Ford, 155.012 mph

22. (41) Casey Mears, Dodge, 154.999 mph

23. (29) Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet, 154.985 mph

24. (21) Ricky Rudd, Ford, 154.925 mph

25. (49) Ken Schrader, Dodge, 154.905 mph

26. (77) Dave Blaney, Ford, 154.885 mph

27. (45) Kyle Petty, Dodge, 154.752 mph

28. (99) Jeff Burton, Ford, 154.659 mph

29. (88) Dale Jarrett, Ford, 154.540 mph

30. (10) Johnny Benson, Pontiac, 154.453 mph

31. (7) Jimmy Spencer, Dodge, 154.400 mph

32. (6) Mark Martin, Ford, 154.354 mph

33. (1) Jeff Green, Chevrolet, 154.248 mph

34. (11) Brett Bodine, Ford, 153.892 mph

35. (4) Mike Skinner, Pontiac, 153.748 mph

36. (23) Kenny Wallace, Dodge, 153.695 mph

37. (25) Joe Nemechek, Chevrolet, Provisional

38. (31) Robby Gordon, Chevrolet, Provisional

39. (22) Ward Burton, Dodge, Provisional

40. (43) John Andretti, Dodge, Provisional

41. (0) Jack Sprague, Pontiac, Provisional

42. (74) Tony Raines, Chevrolet, Provisional

43. (14) Larry Foyt, Dodge, Provisional

Failed to Qualify

44. (37) Derrike Cope, Chevrolet, 151.178 mph

45. (02) Hermie Sadler, Pontiac, none-WD

NASCAR Busch Series

MBNA Armed Forces Family 200 Lineup

Friday's qualifying; Saturday race

At Dover International Speedway

Dover, Del.

(Car number in parentheses)

1. (87) Joe Nemechek, Chevrolet, 156.747 mph.

2. (38) Kasey Kahne, Ford, 155.750.

3. (17) Matt Kenseth, Ford, 155.622.

4. (10) Scott Riggs, Ford, 155.615.

5. (19) Casey Mears, Dodge, 155.568.

6. (60) Stanton Barrett, Ford, 155.521.

7. (81) Martin Truex Jr., Chevrolet, 155.508.

8. (2) Ron Hornaday Jr., Chevrolet, 155.326.

9. (25) Bobby Hamilton Jr., Ford, 155.306.

10. (26) Kevin Grubb, Dodge, 155.286.

11. (37) David Green, Pontiac, 155.273.

12. (7) Randy LaJoie, Chevrolet, 155.179.

13. (5) Brian Vickers, Chevrolet, 154.646.

14. (92) Todd Bodine, Chevrolet, 154.460.

15. (48) Shane Hmiel, Chevrolet, 154.176.

16. (23) Scott Wimmer, Chevrolet, 154.004.

17. (59) Stacy Compton, Chevrolet, 153.872.

18. (46) Ashton Lewis Jr., Chevrolet, 153.721.

19. (57) Jason Keller, Ford, 153.662.

20. (4) Mike Wallace, Chevrolet, 153.407.

21. (70) Morgan Shepherd, Chevrolet, 153.029.

22. (20) Mike Bliss, Chevrolet, 153.009.

23. (31) Dave Blaney, Ford, 152.944.

24. (21) Johnny Sauter, Chevrolet, 152.769.

25. (22) Regan Smith, Chevrolet, 152.491.

26. (12) Kerry Earnhardt, Chevrolet, 152.445.

27. (1) David Stremme, Dodge, 152.188.

28. (28) Brad Baker, Dodge, 152.168.

29. (49) Derrike Cope, Ford, 151.432.

30. (77) Donnie Neuenberger, Ford, 151.178.

31. (18) Coy Gibbs, Chevrolet, 150.621.

32. (72) Stan Boyd, Chevrolet, 149.900.

33. (53) Brad Teague, Pontiac, 148.093.

34. (97) Kenny Hendrick, Pontiac, 148.045.

35. (04) Dion Ciccarelli, Ford, 147.390.

36. (27) Joey Clanton, Pontiac, 147.324.

37. (16) Larry Gunselman, Chevrolet, Provisional.

38. (44) Mike Harmon, Chevrolet, Provisional.

39. (0) J.R. Robbs, Chevrolet, Provisional.

40. (73) Jason Schuler, Ford, Provisional.

41. (39) Jason White, Ford, Provisional.

42. (91) Ron Barfield Jr., Ford, Provisional.

43. (52) Mike Potter, Ford, Provisional.

Failed to qualify

44. (96) Gus Wasson, Chevrolet, 138.472.

45. (84) Brian Weber, Chevrolet, none.

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series

MBNA 200 Results

Friday

At Dover International Speedway

Dover, Del.

(Car number in parentheses)

1. (10) Jason Leffler, Dodge, 200, $52,485.

2. (1) Bobby Hamilton, Dodge, 200, $31,550.

3. (16) David Starr, Chevrolet, 200, $23,515.

4. (11) Jon Wood, Ford, 200, $18,150.

5. (5) Travis Kvapil, Chevrolet, 200, $17,000.

6. (23) Ken Schrader, Chevrolet, 200, $14,825.

7. (12) Chad Chaffin, Dodge, 200, $15,375.

8. (2) Rick Crawford, Ford, 200, $14,825.

9. (6) Dennis Setzer, Chevrolet, 200, $14,325.

10. (9) Robert Pressley, Dodge, 200, $15,375.

11. (15) Bill Lester, Dodge, 198, $13,750.

12. (21) T.J. Bell, Chevrolet, 196, $14,465.

13. (17) Jody Lavender, Chevrolet, 194, $13,365.

14. (20) Randy MacDonald, Dodge, 194, $13,265.

15. (30) Conrad Burr, Chevrolet, 189, $11,365.

16. (22) Randy Briggs, Ford, 186, $13,165.

17. (31) Ken Weaver, Chevrolet, 162, accident, $10,715.

18. (4) Brendan Gaughan, Dodge, 159, accident, $12,865.

19. (18) Tina Gordon, Dodge, 156, accident, $12,765.

20. (7) Terry Cook, Ford, 152, radiator, $12,765.

21. (3) Ted Musgrave, Dodge, 144, engine failure, $12,565.

22. (14) Matt Crafton, Chevrolet, 130, accident, $11,215.

23. (32) Jerry Miller, Dodge, 127, transmission, $10,115.

24. (24) L.W. Miller, Chevrolet, 57, engine failure, $11,015.

25. (26) Randy Renfrow, Dodge, 45, electrical, $9,915.

26. (27) Morgan Shepherd, Ford, 41, brakes, $9,815.

27. (29) Michael Dokken, Chevrolet, 41, engine failure, $9,715.

28. (19) Stan Boyd, Chevrolet, 37, rear end, $9,615.

29. (28) Phil Bonifield, Chevrolet, 23, fuel pump, $9,515.

30. (33) Jason White, Ford, 17, transmission, $9,415.

31. (25) Jerry Hill, Dodge, 16, engine failure, $9,315.

32. (8) Rich Bickle, Ford, 5, accident, $9,265.

33. (13) Carl Edwards, Ford, 5, accident, $9,240.

Average Speed of Race Winner: 97.232 mph.

Time of Race: 2 hours, 03 minutes, 25 seconds.

Margin of Victory: 3.010.

Caution Flags: 8 for 42 laps.

Lead Changes: 5 among 4 drivers.

Lap Leaders: B.Hamilton 1-14; R.Crawford 15-84; C.Chaffin 85-91; T. Musgrave 92-143; J.Leffler 144-200.

Points Standings: 1, B.Hamilton. 996. 2, R.Crawford, 953. 3, T.Kvapil, 884. 4, T.Musgrave, 876. 5, B.Gaughan, 873. 6, D.Setzer, 822. 7, J.Leffler, 799. 8, T.Cook, 781. 9, J. Wood, 777. 10, C.Chaffin, 763.