LAS VEGAS (AP) – Ryan Newman was the third driver to attempt to qualify at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Once he posted his lap, the suspense was over.

Newman ran a flawless lap at 173.745 mph in his Dodge Charger on Friday to win the pole for the UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 and knock the track off the short list of places he had yet to master.

Nobody did. Newman, who has won 28 poles in his career, has now claimed the top qualifying spot at all but nine of the 22 Nextel Cup venues.

Elliott Sadler qualified second in a Ford at 173.712, and Greg Biffle was third in his Ford at 173.182. Kevin Harvick was fourth in a Chevrolet, but did not qualify with a full tank of gas as required this season and will have to go to the rear of the field.

He was followed by Scott Riggs, who will be forced to go to the rear because he changed the transmission in his Chevy.

Kurt Busch, the series champion and a Las Vegas native, qualified sixth and seemed jealous of Newman’s speed.