Go or go-home drivers ruled qualifying day at Talladega Superspeedway Saturday as Toyotas swept the front row and seven of the top 10 starting positions for Sunday’s UAW-Ford 500.
Michael Waltrip and first-time NASCAR hopeful Jacques Villeneuve were among those who went fast. Sam Hornish, the 2006 Indy 500 winner, was among those drivers not in the top in owner points and locked into the race who were forced to go home.
On a track where starting position often dictates little about eventual race results, drivers who needed to qualify on time put extra effort into qualifying trim. The eight fastest qualifying times were all posted by drivers who needed to qualify on time. Seth Livingstone, USA TODAY
The pole victory was Waltrip’s first this season and fourth of his Nextel Cup career.
“There have been a lot of Sunday afternoons when this car wasn’t on the track, ” said Waltrip. “To have it on the track, in front of everybody, when they start tomorrow afternoon is going to be a really proud moment. “
Starting alongside Waltrip will be Dave Blaney, in another Toyota, who posted a time of 50.710 seconds.
Brian Vickers (50.726) and Joe Nemechek (50.809) will make up row two. SeattlePi.com
Waltrip, who has struggled through a generally miserable season, managed to make the race lineup for the third straight week, but only the 11th time this season, as he earned his fourth career pole and first since June 2005 at Pocono.
He turned a lap of 189.070 m. p.h. on the 2.66-mile oval, with Dave Blaney second at 188.838.
“I felt confident yesterday we would make the race, ” Waltrip said. “I wasn’t thinking about the pole. Honestly, it’s more important to me that we have all three (Michael Waltrip Racing) cars in the top eight. ” CanadianPress
| 
|