Associated Press
Saturday, March 18, 2006; E03

HAMPTON, Ga., March 17 -- Bill Lester stole the show from pole-winner Kasey Kahne on Friday night at Atlanta Motor Speedway, earning a spot in the Golden Corral 500 to become the first black driver to qualify for a race in NASCAR's top series in nearly 20 years.

Driving a Dodge fielded by Bill Davis Racing and facing enormous pressure, Lester put up a lap of 190.502 mph early in the Nextel Cup series qualifying session on the 1.5-mile oval.

Lester still had to wait for more than an hour to see if he would make it into the 43-car field for Sunday's race.

"I'm just glad I was able to realize my dream and get this opportunity," said Lester, who qualified 19th overall.

The top 35 cars from last season's owners points are guaranteed starting spots at every race, leaving only eight places to the other entries like the 45-year-old Lester, trying to make a Cup race for the first time.

"It's overwhelming," said Lester, who raced later Friday night in the truck race. "This is the culmination of a very long dream that I've had to race at the top level of motor sports.

"I'm hoping to think that this is the beginning, that it will open a few more eyes and get the attention of corporate America.

"This is quite a feat at my age, but I hope I'm still on the rise," added Lester, the first black man to qualify for a Cup race since Willy T. Ribbs competed in three events in 1986.

Kahne's lap of 192.553 mph was enough to edge Ryan Newman's 192.540 and end the latter's run of Atlanta poles at six.

Rounding out the top five were Jeff Burton, Bobby Labonte and rookie J.J. Yeley. Series points leader Jimmie Johnson will start 14th.