#38-David Gilliland takes his first ever Nextel Cup Bud Pole today at Talladega Superspeedway for tomorrow’s UAW-Ford 500 in only his 9th race. Blasting away his previous best (15th at New Hampshire last month), he becomes the 14th qualifier for next February’s Budweiser Shootout at Daytona. Ironically, he’s the second entry in that event to come from the #38 M&M’s Ford. A bunch of “best sinces” this week…. Dale Jarrett (2nd) gives us an all-RYR front row. This is his best starting spot since he had the outside pole when we were here last October.
Greg Biffle (5th) has his best starting spot since he had the pole at Richmond in May
Kyle Busch (6th) has his best starting spot since he lined up 4th at Loudon in July
Sterling Marlin (7th) has his best starting spot since he qualified 6th at Martinsville in April
Jamie McMurray (8th) has his best starting spot since he had the outside pole at Infineon in June
Welcome back Mike Bliss (20th). His last Cup race was last November at Homestead when he started 19th and finished 12th
Michael Waltrip (21st) has his best starting spot since he lined up 19th at Daytona in July
Paul Menard (24th) has his best starting spot since he qualified 22nd at Atlanta in March (only four races)
And, welcome back Eric McClure (27th). His last Cup effort was at Las Vegas in March of 2005 when he qualified 41st and finished 32nd.
STREAKIN….Jeff Gordon has 4 Top-5 starts in the last 5 races. Greg Biffle has 4 Top-10 starts in the last 5 races.
We’ve got our first non-chaser on the pole, fresh asphalt, a choke plate with smaller holes, and graduated banking on the frontstretch. But it’s still the same old Talladega and nobody’ll feel comfortable till the checkers fall…..especially those Top-5 guys in the Chase.(Stock Car Fans)(10-7-2006)
