Odd stat from 'The Monster Mile'
Kenny Bruce
Kenny Bruce is a three-time winner of the National Motorsports Press Association's George Cunningham Writer of the Year Award. He joined Street & Smith's Sports Group in 2001.
DOVER, Del. – Odd pre-race statistic of the day: David Reutimann may be the first driver to start on the pole the week after winning his first Cup race.
OK, I think he’s the first guy to do it among active drivers. Not like I went back through 60-plus years worth of records and checked EVERYONE.
Jimmie Johnson scored his first win in 2002 (at what was then known as California Speedway), then won a pole two weeks later at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. But that’s the closest I’ve been able to uncover. Until Reutimann’s run here on Friday.
Hey, I told you it was an odd stat ...
• Kasey Kahne fans have to like their driver’s chances this weekend given his No. 2 starting position for today’s Autism Speaks 400. It’s the first race this year for the team using the new Dodge R6 engine. And it’s Kahne’s best starting spot since Michigan last June.
• Tony Stewart (31st) had his worst qualifying effort as a Cup owner/driver here Friday. And it came on the heels of a 28th-place start at
Charlotte a week ago. Hard to argue with the final results, though. The guy’s sitting second in points heading into today’s race.
• Speaking of Stewart, the guy’s going to be plenty busy this week. Following today’s race here in Dover, he’s off to Indianapolis to take part in a two-day tire test with Goodyear. Once that’s done, he’ll head to Eldora Speedway for Wednesday night’s annual Prelude to the Dream. Twenty-six drivers (www.eldoraspeedway.com) are expected to compete in the fifth-annual charity event.
After the Prelude, he’ll be Pocono-bound for next weekend’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event.
