Tony Stewart won the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Bud Pole for the Sylvania 300, lapping New Hampshire International Speedway in 29.043 seconds at 131.143 mph. Ryan Newman holds the track-qualifying record of 28.561 seconds, 133.357 mph, set September 12, 2003.
This is Tony Stewarts first career Bud Pole at New Hampshire and second of the 2005 season. His other pole came at Daytona in July.
This is Tony Stewarts ninth career Bud Pole in 239 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series races, fifth pole on a super speedway.
Tony Stewart won at Loudon in July.
This is Tony Stewarts 14th NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race at New Hampshire International Speedway.
This is the 12th pole for Chevrolet in 2005. Dodge has eight poles and Ford has five. Qualifying was cancelled at Dover and Watkins Glen.
Jeff Gordon posted the second-quickest qualifying lap of 29.058 seconds, 131.075 mph and will join Tony Stewart on the front row for the Sylvania 300. Jeff Gordon has started from a top-10 starting position in 12 of his races at New Hampshire.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. (third) posted his sixth top-10 start in 12 races at Loudon. His best start of the season.
Matt Kenseth (fourth) scored his fourth top-10 start in 11 races at Loudon.
Scott Riggs (fifth) posted his first top-10 start in four races at Loudon.
Wayne Anderson will make his first career NASCAR NEXTEL Cup series start in the Sylvania 300.
Five Chase drivers qualified in the top-10. The slowest Chase driver is Greg Biffle who will start 26th in the Sylvania 300.
There have been 11 different Bud Pole winners in the 22 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series races at Loudon since July 1993. Qualifying has been canceled three times.
Two of the 21 races at Loudon have been won from the pole: Jeff Gordon in August of 1998 and Ryan Newman in September of 2002. The deepest in the field that a race winner has started at Loudon was 38th by Jeff Burton in July 1999.(NASCAR Statistical Services)(9-17-2005)
