Greg Biffle won the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Bud Pole for the Crown Royal 400, lapping Richmond International Raceway in 21.194 seconds at 127.395 mph. Brian Vickers holds the track-qualifying record of 20.772 seconds, 129.983 mph, set May 14, 2004.
This is Biffles third career Bud Pole in 124 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series races.
Biffle posted his second Bud Pole and ninth top-10 start of the season, more than any other driver.
This is Biffles first Bud Pole at Richmond, It is his sixth consecutive top-10 start at Richmond, after qualifying 37th and 15th in his first two attempts here.
Biffle becomes the 13th different Bud Pole winner in the past 13 races at Richmond.
Mark Martin posted the second-quickest qualifying lap of 21.255 seconds, 127.029 mph and will join Biffle on the front row for the Crown Royal 400.
Martin posted his sixth top-10 start of the 2006 season. It is his 22nd top-10 start in 41 Richmond races. This is his first top-10 start in the spring race here since he won the Bud Pole in May 2001.
This is the third Bud Pole for Ford in 2006. Chevrolet and Dodge also have three each. Qualifying was canceled at Bristol.
This is the first 1-2 sweep of qualifying for Ford since Kansas City last fall.
Casey Mears (third) posted his second top-10 start in seven races at Richmond. This is his second top-10 start in 2006 and his season-best.
Brian Vickers (fourth) posted his second top-10 start in five Richmond races. This is his first start better than 22nd since he won the Bud Pole in his first race here in May 2004. This is his second top-10 start of 2006. Jimmie Johnson (fifth) posted his seventh top-10 start of the 2006 season. It is his fifth top-10 start in nine races at Richmond.(NASCAR Statistical Services)(5-5-2006)
