Jimmie Johnson won the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Bud Pole for the DIRECT 500, lapping Martinsville Speedway in 19.575 seconds at 96.736 mph. Tony Stewart holds the track-qualifying record of 19.306 seconds, 98.083 mph, set Oct. 21, 2005.
This is Johnsons ninth career Bud Pole in 153 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series races.
Johnson posted his fifth top-10 start his 2005. His only non-top 10 came at Atlanta (14th).
It is Johnsons first Bud Pole and fifth top-10 start in nine Martinsville races.
The last Bud Pole by a Hendrick Motorsports driver was at New Hampshire in July 2005 by Brian Vickers.
Jamie McMurray posted the second-quickest qualifying lap of 19.583 seconds, 96.696 mph and will join Johnson on the front row for the DIRECTV 500. He posted his third top-10 start in 2006 and his third in seven races at Martinsville.
This is the second Bud Pole for Chevrolet in 2006. Dodge also has two Bud Poles and Ford has one. Qualifying was canceled at Bristol.
Tony Stewart (third) posted his third top-10 start this season, all third or better and all in the past four races. It is his eighth top-10 start in 15 races at Martinsville.
Ryan Newman (fourth) has three top-10 starts this season, all in the past three races. This is his ninth top-10 start in as many races at Martinsville.
Kasey Kahne (fifth) posted his first start better than 15th in five Martinsville races. This is his third top-10 start this season all top fives.
Chad Blount (43rd) became the 52nd driver to make the field for a race this season.
Six driver qualified for their first race at Martinsville: Stanton Barrett, Chad Blount, Clint Bowyer, David Stremme, Martin Truex Jr., and J.J. Yeley.
Six of the seven Raybestos Rookie-of-the-Year candidates qualified for the DIRECTV 500. Brent Sherman did not attempt to qualify. Yeley (18th) was the highest qualifying rookie contender for the fourth time this season.(NASCAR Statistical Services)(3-31-2006)
