Biffle rockets to Cup pole at Darlington
DARLINGTON, S.C. – Greg Biffle posted a torrid lap of 179.442 mph Friday around Darlington Raceway’s repaved 1.366-mile egg-shaped oval to set a track record and claim the pole for Saturday night’s Dodge Challenger 500.
Biffle, driving Roush Fenway Racing’s No. 16 Ford, topped Ward Burton’s 12-year-old track record by more than eight-tenths of a second. Forty-one of the 45 drivers who qualified topped Burton’s former record of 173.797 mph, including Jeff Green, who failed to make the race.
Biffle edged Dale Earnhardt Jr. for the top spot, as Earnhardt Jr. went 179.357 mph in Hendrick Motorsports’ No. 88 Chevrolet. Jimmie Johnson (Hendrick) was third at 179.206 in a backup car after crashing the primary car in practice.
Tony Stewart (Joe Gibbs Racing) was fourth, with Kurt Busch (Penske Racing) fifth. Sixth through 10th were Kyle Busch (JGR), Elliott Sadler (Gillett Evernham Motorsports), Jeff Gordon (Hendrick), Scott Riggs (Haas CNC Racing) and Bobby Labonte (Petty Enterprises).
Dave Blaney (Bill Davis Racing) was the fastest of the drivers needing to make the race via qualifying. He starts 13th Saturday. The other non-top 35 drivers who qualified for the race were Sterling Marlin (Chip Ganassi Racing), Joe Nemechek (Furniture Row Racing), Bill Elliott (Wood Brothers Racing), AJ Allmendinger (Red Bull Racing), J.J. Yeley (Hall of Fame Racing), Kyle Petty (Petty Enterprises) and Patrick Carpentier (Gillett Evernham).
Johnny Sauter (Haas CNC) and Green (Front Row Motorsports) failed to qualify.
