#8-Martin Truex shattered the Nashville Superspeedway track record with a lap of 166.515mph Friday and won his second Busch series pole of the season. A total of 21 drivers topped the qualifying record of 163.324 set by Randy LaJoie before last year’s Pepsi 300, starting with #23-Kenny Wallace in the second car out on the 1.33-mile concrete oval. But Truex, third-fastest in the first practice session, added another pole to the one he took at Daytona after #1-Johnny Benson came up just short of matching his pace. They were the only drivers to top 166 mph with Benson coming in at 166.475 in his Dodge. Benson will start second, followed by #25-Bobby Hamilton Jr.[moves up to the pole spot], #22-Jason Keller and #27-Johnny Sauter. Defending race champion and series points leader #37-David Green qualified 10th. Some Nextel Cup regulars who took advantage of the off weekend didn’t fare as well. #55-Robby Gordon will start 11th, and #99-Michael Waltrip 22nd. [Also #38-Kahne starts 6th and #60-Biffle 16th]. 11 drivers failed to make the race.(ThatsRacin.com/AP)
AND to the back: pole sitter #8-Martin Truex, Jr. wrecked early in Happy Hour and pulled out the backup car. He will have to go to the rear of the field for the start of the race.(BGNRacing.com)
For qualifying results/starting lineups see:
ThatsRacin.com
BGNRacing.com
NASCAR.com.(4-9-2004)
