Eddie Sharp Racing’s Ken Butler, III earned his second pole for the 2008 season, dominating the field with a 29.476-second lap in the Aaron’s Lucky Dog Toyota. Fresh of a Top 10 finish at Pocono Raceway last weekend, KBIII is gaining momentum and looks to be a strong contender to win the famous Nashville Gibson guitar. Teammates Scott Speed and Justin Lofton rounded out a great morning for ESR by qualifying fifth and sixth, respectively, for the Toyota 150.
“The Aaron’s Lucky Dog Toyota was really solid,” said Butler. “This car has been really good for us. It’s the same car that we had last weekend at Pocono. I think we will be really strong tonight in the Toyota 150.”
Lofton was the first of the ESR cars to qualify and turned in a 29.786-second lap that put the No. 20 Lofton Cattle Dodge in the sixth position to start tonight’s 150 mile event. KBIII followed in the No. 22 Aaron’s Lucky Dog Toyota and set the pace for the rest of qualifying with his 162.804 mph Pole Award-winning lap. Speed followed immediately behind Butler in the No. 2 Red Bull Toyota and turned in a 29.664-second lap to put him in the fifth position.
“The car was the best that it’s been all weekend,” commented Lofton following qualifying. “Finally!” he added with a grin. “The guys worked really hard and we finally came up with the right combination. I think we will definitely be strong in today’s race.”
Speed reported that the No. 2 Red Bull Toyota was “a little loose, but good. We will definitely be good in race trim tonight.”
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