#48-Jimmie Johnson won the pole at Kansas Speedway for the Banquet 400 in record breaking fashion with a speed of 180.373mph. That breaks the old track record of 177.924mph set last year by Dale Earnhardt Jr. Eighteen other driver qualified faster then the old record. It is Johnson’s 2nd pole of 2003 and the 6th of his career. Starting on the outside pole is #01-Mike Skinner. Other good runs by #0-Jason Leffler [6th] and #43-Jeff Green [9th]. Looks like provisionals WERE charged this week even thou the new rule saying non would be charged if the number of entrants that are eligible for a provisional starting position for the event is equal to or less then the number of starting positions available [usually 43], as provided by the Official Entry Blank, provisionals assigned to fill starting positions 37 through 43 under those conditions will not count toward the maximum season allotment, which should had been the case since four teams were out with 45 cars entered. So #14-Foyt and #4-Sauter missed the race and DNQ’d. Two part time teams used provisionals: #37-Cope and #09-Wallace. #49-Schrader got the last provisional over #4-Sauter as the #49 is higher in owners points, race attempts is the first criteria, which both have 30. For the speeds, the starting lineup and other lineup links, see the Jayski’s Kansas Qualifying/Grid page .(10-3-2003)
