NASCAR: Bowyer Takes Darlington Pole

Two-time defending Darlington winner Greg Biffle qualified second with a lap of 164.876 mph.

Photo courtesy: DarlingtonRaceway.com

DARLINGTON, S.C. - Clint Bowyer is not letting the Dale Earnhardt Jr./Richard Childress Racing rumors slow him down.

After answering numerous questions about Dale Jr's situation, Bowyer went out and captured his first career Bud Pole in qualifying for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Dodge Avenger 500 at Darlington Raceway.

The driver of the No. 07 Jack Daniels RCR Chevrolet secured a birth in the 2008 Budweiser Shootout at Daytona with a fast lap of 164.987 mph.

"I got in the Bud Shootout now I got to get into the All-Star race, maybe this will be the weekend that gets me in both of them," Bowyer said in hopes of winning Saturday night.

With the exception of the 2004 fall race when qualifying was rained out, Bowyer's pole put an end to Kasey Kahne's Darlington pole streak at three.

Bowyer finally was forced to address the possibility of having Earnhardt Jr. as a teammate.

"I'd say anybody would be lucky to have (Earnhardt) as a teammate," Bowyer said. "He brings so much to the table sponsor wise, fan wise and everything else, so I am sure where ever he lands it will be good for them and him both."

Two-time defending Darlington winner Greg Biffle qualified second with a lap of 164.876 mph.

"I tell you what, our Ford Fusion Ameriquest car is really, really solid," said Biffle. "We felt like we had the fastest car in race trim practice. We have another practice this evening, but I feel like we have one of the fastest cars here for tomorrow night's race."

Biffle's Roush Fenway Racing teammates Jamie McMurray and Carl Edwards make up the second row with Kahne rounding out the top five.

Kenny Wallace turned in an impressive run for the Furniture Row Racing Team taking the sixth spot. Denny Hamlin, Ken Schrader, Kevin Harvick and Jeff Gordon completed the first ten qualifiers.

Michael Waltrip led the list of drivers missing Sunday's show, marking the tenth straight race he's failed to qualify. His teammate Dale Jarrett also was not fast enough along with Jeremy Mayfield, Ward Burton, Mike Bliss and Scott Riggs.

Saturday night's Dodge Avenger 500 will take the green flag at 7:00 PM (ET).

Dodge Avenger 500 Starting Lineup

Pos. No. Driver Team Time Speed

1. 7 Clint Bowyer Jack Daniel's Chevrolet 29.806 164.987

2. 16 Greg Biffle Ameriquest Ford 29.826 164.876

3. 26 Jamie McMurray Crown Royal Ford 29.907 164.430

4. 99 Carl Edwards Office Depot Ford 29.928 164.314

5. 9 Kasey Kahne Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge 29.972 164.073

6. 78 Kenny Wallace Furniture Row Chevrolet 30.008 163.876

7. 11 Denny Hamlin FedEx Express Chevrolet 30.015 163.838

8. 21 Ken Schrader Motocraft Ford 30.036 163.724

9. 29 Kevin Harvick Shell/Pennzoil Chevrolet 30.038 163.713

10. 24 Jeff Gordon DuPont Chevrolet 30.044 163.680

11. 25 Casey Mears National Guard/GMAC Chevrolet 30.114 163.299

12. 48 Jimmie Johnson Lowe's Chevrolet 30.116 163.289

13. 43 Bobby Labonte Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge 30.135 163.186

14. 0 David Reutimann # Domino's Toyota 30.137 163.175

15. 83 Brian Vickers Red Bull Toyota 30.141 163.153

16. 41 Reed Sorenson Target Dodge 30.150 163.104

17. 19 Elliott Sadler Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge 30.161 163.045

18. 2 Kurt Busch Miller Lite Dodge 30.169 163.002

19. 70 Johnny Sauter Haas/Yellow Transportation Chevrolet 30.179 162.948

20. 84 AJ Allmendinger # Red Bull Toyota 30.185 162.915

21. 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Budweiser Chevrolet 30.205 162.807

22. 18 J.J. Yeley Interstate Batteries Chevrolet 30.208 162.791

23. 15 Paul Menard # Menards/MOEN Chevrolet 30.209 162.786

24. 6 David Ragan # AAA Ford 30.238 162.630

25. 1 Martin Truex Jr. Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Chevrolet 30.240 162.619

26. 20 Tony Stewart Home Depot Chevrolet 30.252 162.555

27. 22 Dave Blaney Caterpillar Toyota 30.271 162.453

28. 14 Sterling Marlin Ginn Resorts Chevrolet 30.289 162.356

29. 12 Ryan Newman alltel Dodge 30.304 162.276

30. 40 David Stremme Coors Light Dodge 30.307 162.260

31. 17 Matt Kenseth DeWalt Ford 30.368 161.934

32. 96 Tony Raines DLP HDTV Chevrolet 30.381 161.864

33. 7 Robby Gordon Menards/MAPEI Ford 30.404 161.742

34. 31 Jeff Burton Cingular Wireless Chevrolet 30.441 161.545

35. 13 Joe Nemechek Haier Chevrolet 30.449 161.503

36. 5 Kyle Busch Carquest/Kellogg's Chevrolet 30.482 161.328

37. 1 Mark Martin U.S. Army Chevrolet 30.484 161.317

38. 38 David Gilliland M & M's Ford Owner Points

39. 66 Jeff Green Best Buy Chevrolet Owner Points

40. 88 Ricky Rudd Snickers Ford Owner Points

41. 42 Juan Pablo Montoya # Texaco/Havoline Dodge Owner Points

42. 45 Kyle Petty MarathonAmericanSpiritMotorOil Dodge Owner Points

43. 37 Kevin Lepage Long John Silvers Dodge 30.294 162.329

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