Kevin Harvick won the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Bud Pole for the Chevy Rock & Roll 400, lapping Richmond International Raceway in 21.024 seconds at 128.425 mph. Brian Vickers holds track-qualifying record of 20.772 seconds, 129.983 mph, set May 14, 2004.
This is Harvick’s fourth career Bud Pole in 168 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series races.
This is Harvick’s second start better than 20th in 10 Richmond races; both coming this season. He started seventh and finished fifth in the spring race.
Harvick became the fifth repeat Bud Pole winner this season. He also won the Bud Pole at Talladega. This is his 11th top-10 start this season.
There have been 12 different Bud Pole winners in the 12 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series races at Richmond since 1999.
Greg Biffle posted the second-quickest qualifying lap of 21.043 seconds, 128.309 mph, and will join Harvick on the front row for the Chevy Rock & Roll 400. This is Biffle’s fifth top-10 start in seven races at Richmond. All have come in the past five races. It is his 17th top-10 start this season.
This is the 11th Bud Pole for Chevrolet in 2005. Dodge has eight Bud Poles and Ford has five. Qualifying was canceled at Dover in June and Watkins Glen.
Travis Kvapil (third) posted his career-best start in his 29th NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race. Kvapil posted his first top-10 start in his second race at Richmond. He started 21st and finished 22nd here in May.
Mark Martin (fourth) scored his 21st top-10 start in 40 races at Richmond.
Kurt Busch (fifth) posted his third top-10 start in 10 races at Richmond.
Three of the drivers not locked in but still eligible for the Chase qualified in the top 10: Jeff Gordon (sixth), Ryan Newman (eighth) and Dale Jarrett (ninth).(NASCAR Statistical Services)(9-9-2005)
