Gordon Takes Outside Pole at Bristol

BRISTOL, Tenn. (March 26, 2004) – With a lap of 128.288 mph (14.957 seconds) in Friday’s qualifying session, Jeff Gordon earned the outside pole position for Sunday’s 500-lap NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series event at Bristol Motor Speedway. Gordon, driver of the No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet, has now qualified in the top 10 in 20 of his 23 career attempts at Bristol. It also marks his 11th front-row start at the half-mile oval and his fourth top-10 qualifying effort of 2004. Jimmie Johnson will start 11th in the No. 48 Lowe’s Chevy, followed by rookie Brian Vickers, who qualified 22nd in the No. 25 GMAC Financial Services Monte Carlo. Driving the No. 5 Kellogg’s Chevy, two-time Cup Series champion Terry Labonte was 33rd-quickest in time trials. Ryan Newman picked up the pole position at 128.314 mph (14.954 seconds). Kyle Busch was the top rookie qualifier in NASCAR Busch Series competition, earning the 12th spot at Bristol in the No. 5 Lowe’s Chevrolet at 125.117 mph (15.336 seconds). Greg Biffle will start on the NBS pole after a lap of 127.132 mph (15.093 seconds).