Hamlin edges Newman for Atlanta pole

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09/04/2010 - Hampton, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Denny Hamlin earned his first pole of the season by topping Ryan Newman in Saturday's qualifying for the Emory Healthcare 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Hamlin turned in a lap of 187.380 m.p.h. around the fast 1.54-mile oval for his eight career Sprint Cup Series pole, but his first since last October at Fontana, CA. He also gave Joe Gibbs Racing its 50th pole in the series.

"I was very optimistic, no matter what happened in qualifying, said Hamlin, who notched his first pole in 11 races at Atlanta. "I told myself, 'I knew I had a race-winning car come [Sunday] night.' So this is just a huge bonus for us, because I typically am very bad in qualifying. For us to be anywhere near the front is very uplifting for this team."

Hamlin, currently fifth in points, is tied with Jimmie Johnson for most victories in the series so far with five each. Johnson, the four-time defending series champion, presently sits ninth in points. Just two races remain in the regular season before the championship Chase begins later this month at New Hampshire.

Newman qualified 0.05 seconds behind Hamlin to capture the outside pole. Newman shares the record with Buddy Baker for most poles at Atlanta with seven each.

Kyle Busch captured the third spot, followed by Carl Edwards and Tony Stewart.

Martin Truex Jr., Johnson, Juan Pablo Montoya, David Ragan and Kasey Kahne completed the top-10. Kahne is the defending race winner. He also won the pole for the Nationwide race here earlier in the day.

Clint Bowyer, who currently holds the 12th and final spot for the Chase, qualified 14th. Jamie McMurray, who trails Bowyer by 100 points, will start 12th.

Points leader Kevin Harvick will roll off 29th.

Jason Leffler, Landon Cassill, Scott Riggs and Todd Bodine failed to qualify.

Sunday's 500-mile race at Atlanta is scheduled to start shortly after 7:30 p.m. (et).

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FOOTBALL BETTING : Cassel Signs Contract

Kansas City, MO - Kansas City has not officially named Matt Cassel its starting quarterback, but there can be no doubt now.

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After praising his leadership and work ethic through spring workouts, the Chiefs announced Tuesday they had signed the 27-year-old Cassel to a multiyear contract. Terms were not disclosed, but he will almost certainly be one of the highest-paid members of the team.
"We are excited to be able to reach a long-term agreement for Matt Cassel to be a Kansas City Chief for many years to come," owner and board chairman Clark Hunt said in a statement. "His proven leadership on and off the field will be a tremendous asset to the organization."
Patriots made him their franchise player, meaning his salary for this season will be about $15 million.
New head coach Todd Haley, taking over for Herm Edwards after a 2-14 season, refused to name a starter at any position during offseason workouts. But it was obvious to everyone the team belonged to Cassel.
"I go out there each and every day with that focus that I'm the starter," Cassel said during a June minicamp. "Competition brings out the best in everybody."
The signing will come as welcome news to Cassel's new coaches and teammates. Amiable and hardworking, online football betting he appeared to win over everyone at minicamp.
"I think he's got some unique leadership qualities. I think his teammates like him and have respect for him. I think he's doing a pretty good job on the field, too," Haley said last month. "He's doing everything that I'm asking him, that our coaches are asking him to do. I don't have one single complaint how he's carrying himself."
After one workout, wide receiver Devard Darling declared Cassel "a breath of fresh air."
"He has a lot of swagger, a lot of confidence. It's good for us," said Darling. "We trust in him that he's going to go out there and lead us all the way."
nse to accommodate his specific abilities.
Trapped on the bench behind Heisman winners Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart at USC and then unable to unseat Super Bowl MVP Brady at New England, Cassel seemed destined to be a backup all his life. As Brady was helped off the field last September, Cassel seized the opportunity he'd been waiting for since high school.
In his only sustained action since his teens, he hit 349 of 555 passes for 3,949 yards at New England. He had 23 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions as the Patriots, who had gone unbeaten through the regular season the year before, finished 11-5 and out of the playoffs.
Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli, who had been Bill Belichick's assistant in New England, engineered the trade after the Patriots became convinced that Brady would recover fully from his knee operation.
"Since Matt arrived in Kansas City, he has embraced the team and the community," Pioli said. "His work ethic, his ability and competitive presence is what we expect from our players."

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