Stewart gives JGR third consecutive season-opening pole position

By Lee Montgomery - Associate Editor
Saturday, February 16, 2008
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Daytona 500 weekend

David Griffin
NASCAR Scene

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Tony Stewart extended Joe Gibbs Racing’s domination of Nationwide Series qualifying at Daytona International Speedway by winning the pole Friday for the Camping World 300.

A JGR car has won the pole for the series’ season-opening race at Daytona for the third consecutive season, though it’s the first in a Toyota. J.J. Yeley won the pole in 2006 and Aric Almirola followed last season. Stewart, driving the No. 20 Toyota, turned a lap of 180.937 mph, edging Clint Bowyer, who went 180.101 mph in Richard Childress Racing’s No. 2 Chevrolet. Jason Leffler (Braun Racing) was third at 180.047. Dario Franchitti (Chip Ganassi Racing) was fourth, with Kyle Busch (JGR) fifth.

Johnny Sauter (Phoenix Racing) was sixth, but his time and that of four other drivers' times was disallowed for illegal aerodynamic modifications to their cars. Cale Gale, David Gilliland and David Stremme also had their times disallowed. All those drievrs made the race via 2007 owners points. The fifth driver, Kertus Davis, failed to make the race after his 15th-place qualifying time was disallowed. Teammate Dwayne Leik takes Davis’ place in the lineup.

The rest of the top 10 was Bryan Clauson (CGR), Bobby Labonte (RCR), Denny Hamlin (Braun), Kevin Harvick (Kevin Harvick Inc.) and Martin Truex Jr. (Dale Earnhardt Inc.).

“This is a day that’s more about the guys on the team and [crew chief] Dave Rogers and the guys at JGR and Toyota,” Stewart said.

Danny O’Quinn, Morgan Shepherd, Larry Gunselman, Kenny Wallace, Kevin Lepage, Joe Nemechek, Donnie Neuenberger, Brett Rowe, Mike Harmon and Davis failed to qualify.

Labonte, Hamlin, Truex Jr., Brian Vickers, Mark Green, Matt Kenseth, D.J. Kennington, Stanton Barrett, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jason Keller, Michael McDowell, Willie Allen and Leik made the race via qualifying.

The Camping World 300 is slated for 1:15 p.m. EST on Saturday.

Mentioned Drivers: Aric Almirola

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2009 Sprint Cup Race for the Chase Standings

Driver Standings after the AMP Energy 500

1 Jimmie Johnson 6248
2 Mark Martin -184
3 Jeff Gordon -192
4 Juan Pablo Montoya -239
5 Tony Stewart -279
6 Kurt Busch -312
7 Greg Biffle -340
8 Ryan Newman -402
9 Kasey Kahne -414
10 Carl Edwards -437
11 Denny Hamlin -448
12 Brian Vickers -556

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