By By SCOTT NOVAK / Niles Daily Star
Don't look now but the "Rocket Man" is coming.
South Bend, Ind.'s own Ryan Newman is charging up the NEXTEL Cup Top 10 as fast as he gets around a speedway.
Newman moved up four places to fifth following Sunday's Food City 500 in Bristol, Tenn. and is currently 110 points behind Cup leader and defending series champion Matt Kenseth.
Newman won yet another pole on Friday for the Food City 500 and has his eyes set on setting a record for poles this season.
The NEXTEL Cup Series moves to Texas this weekend where Newman is the defending champion of the Samsung Radio Shack 500 at the Texas Motor Speedway.
Newman and his No. 12 ALLTELL Dodge have performed well at tracks like Texas where fuel mileage is an issue. Come this Sunday, that could spell the difference between winning and losing.
Newman has become known as the "Rocket Man" for his ability to burn up the tracks, especially during qualifying.
Newman won 11 poles last season and already has three more Bud Poles this year giving him 21 for his career. Newman is the second fastest driver to reach 20 poles in his career.
Newman has made it known that he is going after the record of 15 poles this season.
Newman would also like to add to his total career victories. Last year Newman won eight races to give him nine wins in just 80 starts. The 2002 Rookie of the Year would definitely like to make it back-to-back wins at Texas.
Sunday's Samsung Radio Shack 500 can be seen on FOX at 1 p.m.