EXHIBIT 32.1

     Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

      In connection with the Quarterly Report of Newpark Resources, Inc. (the
"Company") on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2004, as filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"), I, James
D. Cole, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) of
the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to
Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

      (1)   The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or
            15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

      (2)   The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all
            material respects, the financial condition and results of operations
            of the Company.

Date: August 5, 2004                                 /s/ James D. Cole
                                                     ---------------------------
                                                     James D. Cole, Chairman and
                                                     Chief Executive Officer

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906, or other
document authenticating, acknowledging, or otherwise adopting the signature that
appears in typed form within the electronic version of this written statement
required by Section 906, has been provided to the Company and will be retained
by the Company and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its
staff upon request.

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