Home >  Sports >  Auto Racing

Elliott reaches mark of 5 held by Schrader

Saturday, July 27, 2002

By Dick Brinster, The Associated Press

LONG POND, Pa. -- Bill Elliott was the fastest qualifier for the second week in a row and tied the record yesterday for the most career poles at Pocono Raceway.

Tomorrow, in the Pennsylvania 500, Elliott will try to become the first driver to win five times on the mountaintop. Despite that, he hasn't done well on the track in recent years, previously winning in 1989.

But his prospects have changed in his second season driving for Ray Evernham after folding his team.

"This team has done so well this year," Elliott said. "We've just communicated real well. They just keep digging it out."

The pole was his fourth this year -- giving Elliott, 46, the lead in the Winston Cup series -- and the 55th overall. It also was his fifth at Pocono, matching Ken Schrader's track record.

Elliott's Dodge sped around the 2 1/2-mile triangular-shaped track in 52.765 seconds, posting a fast lap of 170.568 mph. That was far short of Tony Stewart's two-year-old track record of 172.391. But Elliott was consistently fast, posting the third-quickest speed in practice at 169.393. His first qualifying lap was fast enough to win the pole, but Elliott took another and went quicker.

"I felt like I didn't get it done on the first lap," Elliott said. "All the guys on the team said just go for it, so I was just digging."

Most drivers, faced with NASCAR's one-engine rule for each race, are reluctant to try a second fast lap. If an engine must be changed, a driver is forced to go to the rear of the field. That's exactly what happened to defending race champion Bobby Labonte, a three-time Pocono winner, who will move from 37th to the rear of the field.

Elliott, the 1988 Winston Cup champion, was hoping to convert the pole into his 42nd career victory. He also won the pole for the race a week ago at New Hampshire International Speedway, but a mechanical problem left him nine laps down to winner Ward Burton in 17th place.

Second-fastest was Ricky Rudd, who had the best car in June, but developed a tire problem near the end of the Pocono 500. Ultimately, he hit the wall and finished 17th in a race won by teammate Dale Jarrett.

Rudd's Ford got around in 170.358, but he thought he could have done better.

"That was not the best lap I could have run," Rudd said. "I got a little greedy over there in the tunnel turn. I drove in too hard and shoved the nose and probably lost some momentum."

Michael Waltrip overcame a brush with the wall in practice and wound up qualifying third. Driving a Chevrolet missing its number on the right side after quick repairs, Waltrip went 170.168. Like Elliott, he was faster on his second lap.

"It just got a little tight when it hit the wall, but they made a few adjustments, and the car ran good," Waltrip said. "It handled good, but I just had nothing for those other cats."

Fourth fastest at 169.917 was the Dodge of Jeremy Mayfield. Qualifying fifth was John Andretti, whose Dodge got around at 169.782.

Johnny Benson, back after missing time with a rib injury, qualified sixth, followed by rookies Jimmie Johnson and Ryan Newman, four-time Pocono winner Rusty Wallace and Stewart.