Jeff Gordon took the Bud Pole tonight for tomorrow night’s Crown Royal presents the Jim Stewart 400 at Richmond International Raceway…and he made it a three-peat. His time of 21.386 (126.251 mph) was good enough for his 5th top-spot of the season and 61st of his Nextel Cup career. Carl Edwards (2nd) has his best starting spot since he had the pole at Homestead in November of 2005. Scott Riggs (3rd) has his best starting spot since he had the outside pole at Homestead in November of 2006. A. J. Allmendinger (13th) has his career-best starting spot this weekend. His previous best was 40th at Martinsville last month. David Reutimann (14th) ties his career-best starting position. He also started 14th last week at Talladega. Welcome Back Johnny Benson (31st). This is his first start since Atlanta in October of 2005 when he lined up 19th and finished 28th. Got a first this week. All five Rookie of the Year Candidates have made the field….first time this season we’ve seen that. STREAKIN….Jeff Gordon has 7 Top-5 starts in a row. Denny Hamlin has 6 Top-10 starts in a row. Jimmie Johnson has 6 Top-10 starts in the last 7 races. Well, Dale Jarrett lost his best friend this weekend (the Champions Provisional) and he’s on the Trouble Train out of town early. The DNQ’s this week were: Brian Vickers, Ken Schrader, Michael Waltrip, Jeremy Mayfield, Jarrett, Kevin Lepage, and Mike Bliss. (Stock Car Fans)(5-4-2007)
