Vickers Claims Outside Pole at Atlanta

HAMPTON, Ga. (March 12, 2004) – At 192.634 mph and 28.780 seconds, Brian Vickers posted the second-best lap in Friday’s NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series qualifying session at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Driving the No. 25 GMAC Financial Services Chevrolet, the 20-year-old will start to the outside of pole-sitter Ryan Newman in Sunday’s Golden Corral 500. Newman posted a lap of 193.575 mph (28.640 seconds). Vickers was closely followed by teammates Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon, who qualified third and fourth respectively. Johnson’s No. 48 Lowe’s Chevy was clocked at 192.380 mph, while Gordon checked in at 192.366 mph in the No. 24 DuPont Monte Carlo. Terry Labonte, driver of the No. 5 Kellogg’s Chevrolet, will start 36th in the fourth Hendrick Motorsports entry. He posted a 186.988-mph lap. Sunday’s Golden Corral 500 will be broadcast live from Atlanta by FOX (1 p.m. ET) and PRN (12:15 p.m. ET).