It took a strong qualifying run by Elliott Sadler to end Jeff Gordon's hold on the front row at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Sadler ran a lap at 127.733 mph yesterday in Bristol, Tenn., to win the pole, his first since September 2003. It comes at the same track where Sadler scored his first career victory four years ago in the Food City 500.
Elliott Sadler celebrates his pole win at Bristol Motor Speedway. "I can't think of a better place than Bristol, and I feel like I already won the race."
(Chuck Burton -- APd)
|
|
_____ Multimedia _____
• Audio: washingtonpost.com's Mike Snyder reports after Jeff Gordon's tight victory Sunday.
• Photos
• Joe Gibbs talks about the parallels between football and NASCAR and the challenges and rewards of both.
• Audio: Gibbs talks about his future in auto racing and pro football. (Jan. 26)
_____ On Our Site _____
• Interactive guide to NASCAR's 36-race Nextel Cup series, including photos, schedules, profiles, statistics and more.
_____ Basics _____
•
Results
• Schedule
• Standings
• Statistics
• Nextel Cup page
| | |
| _____ Daytona 500 _____
• Jeff Gordon clinches his third Daytona 500 title, edging Kurt Busch and Dale Earnhardt Jr. on Sunday.
• Final Results
• Hendrick Motorsports overcomes tragic plane crash to remain favored team in Daytona.
• Michael Waltrip edges teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the early qualifying race and Tony Stewart wins the nightcap.
• The Daytona 500 has served as the personal playground lately for Team Earnhardt.
_____ Multimedia _____
• Audio: washingtonpost.com's Mike Snyder reports after Jeff Gordon's tight victory Sunday.
• Photos
• Joe Gibbs talks about the parallels between football and NASCAR and the challenges and rewards of both.
• Audio: Gibbs talks about his future in auto racing and pro football. (Jan. 26)
_____ On Our Site _____
• Interactive guide to NASCAR's 36-race Nextel Cup series, including photos, schedules, profiles, statistics and more.
• Previous winners
_____ Live Online _____
• The Post's Liz Clarke was talking racing' Friday. Read the transcript.
_____ Flashback _____
• Six years after his father won NASCAR's grandest race, Dale Earnhardt Jr. roars to victory in the '04 Daytona 500.
• Gallery
_____ Nextel Cup Basics _____
• Results
• Schedule
• Standings
• Statistics
• Nextel Cup page
| | |
|
"This is a very special place," Sadler said. "I haven't had a pole in a long time and I really wanted this bad. I can't think of a better place than Bristol, and I feel like I already won the race."
Dave Blaney qualified second and Rusty Wallace, who has nine Bristol victories, was third.
"I really wanted the pole here, but this is okay, too," said Wallace, who is retiring at the end of the season.
Gordon, who has qualified on the front row the last six races here, was fourth. He is seeking his fifth win in Bristol's spring race and still thinks he has a chance.
"I think good starting position is so critical, especially at short tracks," Gordon said. "We haven't been qualifying that good this year, but this is a start."
Travis Kvapil qualified fifth. Jeff Green, Ryan Newman, Jeremy Mayfield, Kasey Kahne and Greg Biffle rounded out the top 10.
Sadler thinks the race is his to lose.
"My car is bad to the bone in race trim, it's one of the best cars I've ever had here," he said. "We knew if we could start near the front we'd be okay."
-- From News Services
