Atlanta Qualifying Report
QUALIFYING RESULTS:
1. Greg Biffle, Ford, 28.807 seconds, 192.453 miles per hour
2. Kurt Busch, Dodge, 28.811 seconds, 192.426 miles per hour
3. Dale Jarrett, Toyota, 28.927 seconds, 191.655 miles per hour
4. Kasey Kahne, Dodge, 28.936 seconds, 191.595 miles per hour
5. Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chevrolet, 28.952 seconds, 191.489 miles per hour
11. Bobby Labonte, Dodge, 29.095 seconds, 190.548 miles per hour
39. Kyle Petty, Dodge, 29.698 seconds, 186.679 miles per hour
HAMPTON, GA (October 26, 2007) - Bobby Labonte, a six time winner at the Atlanta Motor Speedway, will start from the 11th spot on Sunday. Labonte’s Dodge was a little loose during his qualifying run and just barely missed a top 10 starting spot. Labonte and the Cheerios/Betty Crocker team were hopeful of a stronger qualifying run Friday night, but Labonte feels good about his car.
“Yea, I think we had some good runs in practice on Friday,” said Labonte. “Qualifying, no, that’s not too good. I felt like we should have been better or could have been better. I think the whole team feels that way, but we’re confident for a good day on Sunday.
Kyle Petty and the #45 American Spirit Motor Oil Dodge team will start 39th in Sunday’s race. Petty qualified early in session when the track hadn’t completely cooled. The team picked up three tenths from their practice speed as the car continues to gain speed. Petty and the team have two more practice sessions on Saturday before Sunday’s 500-mile race.
“It’s a long race on Sunday,” said Petty. “You stay out of trouble, work on your stuff and you can walk home with a good finish.”
The recently married Greg Biffle posted his first pole of 2007 Friday night at the 1.54-mile Atlanta (Ga.) Motor Speedway. Biffle ran an average lap over 192 miles per hour to capture his fourth pole in his career. The pole is his first at the fast Atlanta track that hosted night qualifying under the cool fall night. Kurt Busch will start second and Dale Jarrett will start third in his Toyota. David Reutimann, Burney Lamar, Sam Hornish, Ward Burton and Mike Skinner did not qualify for Sunday’s race.
Friday’s qualifying session was televised live nationally by ESPN2 and broadcast on PRN Radio. Sunday’s race will be televised live on ABC and broadcast live on PRN Radio. The race is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m. (ET). |