Newman turned a lap at 135.232 mph to set a new track qualifying record at New Hampshire. Brad Keselowski held the previous record here at 133.572 mph, set last September.
It was Newman’s 47th career pole, which moved him into sole possession of 10th on the Sprint Cup Series’ all-time pole winners list.
His last pole came in May 2010 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
“It’s been such a long drought for me to win a pole,” Newman said. “I’m really excited about this weekend. This has been a track that’s been really good for me.”
Newman has now recorded five poles at this flat one-mile track. He also won the pole for the 100-lap NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race here, which is scheduled for Saturday.
Stewart posted a lap at 135.064 mph for the outside pole. It’s the first time SHR has swept the front row since the racing organization made its debut in NASCAR’s premier series at the start of the 2009 season.
“I’m really proud of our organization,” Stewart said. “We’ve been fighting hard here, and we’re in the middle of making some changes internally. It’s definitely not an easy time for us, but we’ve got a group of guys there that are racers. They don’t care how bad it gets and how much we’re struggling. They keep focused and keep working.”
David Reutimann qualified third, followed by Kurt Busch and Brad Keselowski. Last Saturday, Reutimann finished second to Kyle Busch in the inaugural Sprint Cup race at Kentucky.
Jeff Burton, Jeff Gordon, Juan Pablo Montoya, Paul Menard and Kasey Kahne completed the top-10.
Kyle Busch, the current points leader, will start 19th.
Other notable drivers and their starting positions include: Clint Bowyer (12th), Denny Hamlin (14th), Carl Edwards (15th), Kevin Harvick (18th), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (27th), Jimmie Johnson (28th) and Matt Kenseth (30th).
Tony Raines, Scott Riggs and Dennis Setzer failed to qualify.
The 301-lap race at New Hampshire is scheduled to start just after 1:00 p.m. (et).
