NASCAR notes: Newman, Kahne lead Cup practice

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LAT PHOTOGRAPHIC
Crew chief Chad Knaus talks with driver Jimmie Johnson at Pocono Raceway on Friday.

By: Al Pearce on 8/05/2011

Ryan Newman and Kasey Kahne were fastest in Friday's two Sprint Cup practice sessions at Pocono Raceway. Teams will qualify Saturday morning at 10:40 (three of the 46 entries won't make the show) and start their 200-lap, 500-mile at 1:15 on Sunday afternoon.

In the first session, Newman (170.026 mph) easily beat Kurt Busch (168.621 mph), A. J. Allmendinger (168.517 mph), Carl Edwards (168.360 mph) and Mark Martin (168.300 mph) in the 90-minute session. Jimmie Johnson, David Ragan, Paul Menard, Kyle Busch and Brad Keselowski rounded out the top 10. The five slowest were Geoffrey Bodine, Jason White, Erik Darnell, Scott Speed, and T. J. Bell.

Kahne led the second 90-minute session at 167.520 mph. Mark Martin (166.834 mph), Kevin Harvick (166.756 mph), Clint Bowyer (166.667 mph), and Juan Pablo Montoya (166.599 mph) also were in the top five. Jeff Burton, Newman, Brad Keselowski, Regan Smith and Carl Edwards were in the top 10. The slowest five were White, Casey Mears, Bell, Mike Skinner and David Stremme.

Cup drivers rule truck practice

Sprint Cup stars Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch and Mark Martin were first, third and fifth in Friday morning's Camping World Truck Series practice at Pocono Raceway. Teams practiced for almost two hours, will qualify Saturday morning at 9:35 and run their 50-lap, 125-mile race at 1 p.m.

Harvick's best lap of 161.493 mph beat the 160.964 mph of Todd Bodine. Busch ran 160.878 mph to show in third, Matt Crafton ran 160.829 mph for fourth, Martin ran 160.691 mph for fifth and Johnny Sauter ran 160.494 mph for sixth.

Nelson Piquet Jr., Miguel Paludo, Jason White and Joey Coulter rounded out the top 10. Only 30 teams showed up and practiced, four fewer than allowed on the entry form. The slowest of those 30 was Chris Lafferty at 119.600 mph.

Mattiolis step down

Doctors Rose and Joe Mattioli, both deep into their 80s, announced Friday afternoon their joint retirement from daily operations of the three-sided, 2.5-mile track at Long Pond, Pa. Their three eldest grandchildren will take over daily operations, effective immediately.

Brandon Igdalsky, 35, the track's president since 2007, has assumed addition duties as chief executive officer. His brother, 33-year-old Nicholas, has been named executive vice president and chief operating officer. Their sister, 30-year-old Ashley, has been named secretary-treasurer of the family-owned corporation. They have four younger siblings, almost ensuring that the track Bruton Smith reportedly has wanted for years will stay in the family for generations.

The Mattiolis built Pocono Raceway in 1970 and hosted the first of their 67 NASCAR Sprint Cup races in 1974. The track also has hosted 20 IndyCar, four Indy Light, 30 ARCA, one NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and seven NASCAR Modified races.

Saturday's Pocono schedule

-- 9:35 a.m., Camping World Truck Series qualifying

-- 10:40 a.m., Sprint Cup qualifying

-- 1 p.m., start of Truck Series 125

-- 3 p.m., start of ARCA 125

 

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