It was Denny Hamlin today at Martinsville Speedway as he took the Bud Pole for Sunday’s Goody’s Cool Orange 500 with a time of 19.911 sec (95.103 mph). The Virginia driver has now captured the last two poles in his home state as his last top-spot was at Richmond last September. The was the 5th pole for Hamlin, and he’s also the fifth different driver to qualify for next February’s Budweiser Shootout. Jamie McMurray (2nd) takes the outside pole. This is his best starting spot since he was on the outside of the front row at Infineon last June. Ken Schrader (4th) has his best starting spot since he timed in 4th here in April of 2003! How’s that for handling that qualifying pressure? J. J. Yeley (5th) has his best starting spot since he lined up 5th at Kansas last September. Carl Edwards (9th) has his best starting spot since he qualified 6th at Dover last September. Johnny Sauter (10th) has his best starting spot since he lined up 10th at Bristol in March of 2004! Tony Raines (11th) has his best starting spot since he timed in 11th here last October. Jeremy Mayfield (13th) has his best starting spot since he qualified on the outside pole at Dover last June. David Ragan (27th) has his career-best starting spot this weekend. He lined up 35th at Daytona and Las Vegas this year for his previous best. STREAKIN…..Jeff Gordon has 4 Top-5 starts in the last 5 races. (See more at stockcarfans.com)(3-30-2007)
