NEWMAN MADE FOR ATLANTA: Buddy Baker says he knew the first day he tested with Ryan Newman at Atlanta Motor Speedway back in January of 2001 that Newman would one day be setting records at the fast track.

Newman earned his seventh pole position at Atlanta last night, tying Baker's own record, set 23 years ago.

"It's just a matter of time before he breaks the pole record outright; he's liable to do it in October," Baker said. "And I would smile."

Baker would smile because he would recall the cold winter day that Newman fell in love with the fastest track in NASCAR.

"The nice part of working with Ryan, when he loves a place he'd just look at it and grin," Baker said. "When we got here, it was obvious it was his kind of race track."

It was even more obvious after Newman took a few laps. That first day on track in a Busch car, he turned a lap that was faster than the Busch track qualifying record at the time.

Newman turned 29 laps that day. By the end of the session, Baker was convinced he was the next big thing.
"Anybody who knows me knows I don't brag on people," Baker said that day six years ago. "You either have it or you don't. He has it. If he had faults, I would tell him. But I haven't found any yet."

Baker still hasn't found any fault with Newman, either as a driver or as a friend.

"He's as close to a third son as I've ever had," Baker said. "I don't have a record that I wouldn't like to see him break."

But in the meantime, Newman has more work to do. Baker has issued a small challenge, from teacher to pupil.

"The last time I sat on the pole here I won the race. So I told him he's got a little more to do yet," Baker said with a twinkle in his eye.

TAKING SAFETY TO SHORT-TRACK USA: Randy LaJoie announced the launch of his Safer Racer Tour Saturday at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The Tour will visit short tracks all over the country to educate racers on the importance of safety.

Only an estimated 30 percent of short-track race cars are up to safety standards. According to LaJoie, getting the safety features in the cars is an uphill battle. Cost issues as well as negative attitudes are a huge obstacle. Lajoie hopes to work with drivers, track promoters and even chassis builders to get the word out.

"I want to educate these guys," LaJoie said. "The rest of the industry doesn't know what the top three divisions know. Some people just don't know what could happen to them."

LaJoie is a two-time NASCAR Busch Series Champion. His company, the Joie of Seating, has revolutionized the driver's seat and is rapidly becoming the leading seat provider for drivers of all ages.