Thursday marked the return of Flyin’ Ryan at Charlotte Motor Speedway!

photo credit: Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR

Ryan Newman won his first pole of the year Thursday night after posting the fastest qualifying lap at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

“I’ve never run into a corner at 200 mph up against the wall and made it stick and still come out the other end,” Newman said. “To have the courage to put yourself in that position is tough enough, let alone doing it, pulling it off and winning that pole. I’ve never been a guy to run the wall, let alone in qualifying.”

It should be no surprise to see Newman starting first at Charlotte Motor Speedway. He collected the pole for this race last year and it’s his ninth overall at Charlotte Motor Speedway. It’s also Newman’s 46th career pole, tying him with Junior Johnson for the 10th best all-time.

Last week’s All-Star Race winner, Kurt Busch will start on the front row beside Newman after posting the second fastest qualifying lap.

“Things are going good,” Busch said after qualifying. “Hopefully we can get it put together for the full 600 miles.”

600 miles equals the longest race on the Sprint Cup schedule.

TV coverage of the Coca-Cola 600 begins this Sunday afternoon at 5 on FOX.

For the Coca-Cola starting line-up, click here (nascar.com)