Darlington, S.C. ? Ryan Newman brought his qualifying magic to Darlington Raceway.

After losing the top position to Elliott Sadler on the 1.366-mile, egg-shaped oval in qualifying in the spring, Newman had just enough speed Friday, and will start out front in the Southern 500.

Newman’s fast lap of 169.048 mph in a Penske Racing Dodge barely outstripped the 168.862 of Jimmie Johnson’s Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. The time difference was just 0.032-seconds.

“That was just a good enough lap to beat Jimmie,” Newman said. “He had a good car, too.”

Johnson said, “I was so close to Ryan. I left a little on the table in (turn) four, getting back into the gas. Probably all I needed was just a little bit. But I’m just very happy because track position is very important here.”

The “Track Too Tough To Tame,” which will lose its traditional Labor Day weekend date to California Speedway in 2004 after a 54-year run and move the Southern 500 to November, is supposed to be the most difficult in NASCAR for young drivers.

But, a year ago, as first-year drivers, Newman qualified third and 12th and finished fifth and second in the two Darlington events, while Johnson started fifth in both races and finished ninth and sixth.

The narrow, treacherous track didn’t treat them quite as well in March when Newman started second but finished 14th, and Johnson started 14th and finished 27th.

“Its a great racetrack,” Newman said. “It’s a driver’s racetrack.”

Johnson said, “You have to respect this place because it can just eat you up in a minute, but I love racing here.”

The series-leading sixth pole of the season for Newman matched his total last year, when he was the top Winston Cup rookie, and gave him a career total of 13 in just 69 races.

Terry Labonte was third in another Hendrick Chevy at 168.538.