All News Dale Earnhardt Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Jarrett Geoff Bodine Jeff Gordon Jimmie Johnson Joe Nemechek Kasey Kahne Kurt Busch Ricky Craven Robby Gordon Rusty Wallace Ryan Newman Terry Labonte

Rusty Wallace wins pole for the Nextel All-Star Challenge:

May 21, 2004 at 12:00 AM
  • #2-Rusty Wallace went fast enough on the race track and slow enough as he came to pit road for his mandatory four-tire stop to win the pole for Saturday night’s Nextel All-Star Challenge at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. It took Wallace 2 minutes, 3.998 seconds to complete three laps and his pit stop, allowing him to edge teammate #12-Ryan Newman for the top spot in the 20th annual running in stock-car racing’s all-star event. #97-Kurt Busch would have been faster than either of the Penske South Dodges, with a time of 2:23.480 had it not been for a 20-second penalty he incurred for exceeding a 45 mph speed limit as he entered pit road.
    Busch, #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr., #9-Kasey Kahne, #24-Jeff Gordon, #88-Dale Jarrett, #01-Joe Nemechek, #32-Ricky Craven and #31-Robby Gordon all found out, picking up the 20-second penalties. They’ll start 14th through 21st, ahead of only #98-Geoffrey Bodine who had the evening’s slowest time because of a disastrous. 31.3 second stop. #5-Terry Labonte also got a five-second penalty for driving through more than three pit stalls as he went to make his stop. He’ll start 13th. It all sets the stage for Saturday’s all-star race, with defending champion Jimmie Johnson starting 11th in an event with a history of wild finishes and grudge-building controversies that pays at least $1,003,500 to the winner.(ThatsRacin.com)
    For the lineups and lineup links, see Jayski’s Nextel All-Star Challenge / Nextel Open Qualifying Results and Starting Lineups Page.(5-21-2004)