New Hampshire Qualifying Report

QUALIFYING RESULTS:
1. Dave Blaney, Toyota, 29.426 seconds, 129.437 miles per hour
2. Kurt Busch, Dodge, 29.484 seconds, 129.182 miles per hour
3. Reed Sorenson, Dodge, 29.620 seconds, 128.589 miles per hour
4. Johnny Sauter, Chevrolet, 29.640 seconds, 128.502 miles per hour
5. Juan Montoya, Dodge, 29.661 seconds, 128.411 miles per hour
32. Bobby Labonte, Dodge, 29.979 seconds, 127.049 miles per hour
42. John Andretti, Dodge, 30.181 seconds, 126.199 miles per hour

Bobby Labonte and the #43 Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge team have their work ahead of them for Sunday’s race. The team worked mightily on their Dodge Avenger on Friday to find more speed. Labonte was 32nd fastest in his qualifying session in the newer car.

“We haven’t been too bad with the Car of Tomorrow and these Cheerios/Betty Crocker Avengers,” said Labonte. “That’s just not the case right now. We have to find something to get our car better for Sunday. It’s not handling well on this flat track. We ran well at Phoenix earlier this season on that flat track. Hopefully we can come back and do that again here on Sunday.”

Dave Blaney shocked the field of 49 Nextel Cup cars by taking the Pole for Sunday’s Lenox Tools 300 at the one-mile New Hampshire International Speedway on Friday. Blaney, a driver who was not even guaranteed to make the field for Sunday’s event, beat a pair of Dodge’s for his second career pole. Kurt Busch and Reed Sorenson were unable to dismount Blaney from the top spot. A surprising Johnny Sauter was the fourth fastest qualifier and last week’s winner, Juan Montoya, placed his Dodge in the top five.

It was a beautiful, sunny day for qualifying at New Hampshire. Track conditions were typical for the fast, flat track. Teams that qualified early in the session struggled with grip while teams who qualified later in the session benefited from cooler track temperatures. Blaney was able to give Toyota its first pole in Nextel Cup history. Brian Vickers, also in a Toyota, had issues with post-race inspection. NASCAR officials are expected to make a decision on his eligibility for Sunday’s race soon.

It was also a bit of a struggle for John Andretti and his #45 Wells Fargo Dodge Avenger on Friday. Andretti qualified nearly the same as Labonte with the 42nd fastest time of the day. Andretti is back behind the wheel of the #45 Dodge filling in for Kyle Petty whose goes back to the TNT booth this weekend. Andretti knows it’s time to prepare for the race.

“The day didn’t go like we wanted,” said Andretti. “But, at least we have some time to get better. Saturday is going to give us a chance to work on the race setup. Billy Wilburn, Paul Andrews, Kyle, Robbie and ‘The King’ have been down here today. We’re working to get the cars better.”

Friday’s qualifying session was televised live nationally by SPEED Channel and broadcast on MRN Radio. Sunday’s race will be televised live on TNT and broadcast live on MRN Radio. The race is scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m. (ET).