| | Associated Press
LOUDON, N.H. -- Qualifying just hours after Kenny Irwin was
killed in a wreck during a practice session, Rusty Wallace took his
seventh NASCAR Winston Cup pole position of the season Friday.
Irwin, 30, was killed when his car slammed into a wall at 150
mph at New Hampshire International Speedway. Eight weeks ago to the
day -- at almost the same spot -- Adam Petty was killed in a wreck
during practice for a Busch Series race.
"These are the days that make you really sit back, look at
yourself in the mirror and go, 'Why do I do this?' " said Wallace,
who turned a lap at an average speed of 132.089 mph to break the
track record.
John Andretti qualified second for Sunday's New England 300 with
a run of 131.574 mph.
Mark Martin was third, followed by Jeff Burton, Ricky Craven,
Tony Stewart, Ken Schrader, Jeff Gordon, Jerry Nadeau and Dale
Jarrett. Series leader Bobby Labonte qualified 20th.
Sterling Marlin, Irwin's teammate, elected not to participate in
qualifying Friday, which determined the top 25 positions, but took a provisional starting spot on Saturday after second-round qualifying.
Other drivers making the grid after the second-round session included
Dale Earnhardt Jr., Darrell Waltrip, Mike Skinner and Terry
Labonte.
Labonte will compete despite a broken tibia and bruised ribs suffered in last week's race at Daytona. He was briefly knocked
unconscious after hitting the wall in an incident with Michael Waltrip on lap 82. Hendrick Motorsports driver Jack Sprague is
on standby for replacement.
The race will be televised live on TNN Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.
| |
ALSO SEE
New England 300 lineup
Tragedy strikes twice: Irwin dies in Loudon crash
Streaky Burton arives in Loudon
Furr: Labonte holds biggest answer to second-half questions
Weber: On the move, or moving backwards?
Kyle Petty to skip race at track where son died
|
