Bobby Labonte Takes 'The Winston' Pole

around the 1.5-mile Lowe's Motor Speedway, down pit road and into the stallfor a flawless - and fast - pit stop and then quickly through the gears and
back up to speed. Labonte's speed averaged out to 146.30 mph during the 1.50
minutes that elapsed on his way to the checkers and the Pole position for
Saturday night's running of The Winston.

Jeff Gordon, who missed his pit stall last year in qualifying when he came in
'too hot,' was more conservative tonight. Maybe a little too conservative.
Gordon's three laps and stop took a total of nearly 1.52 minutes, fast enough
to secure the second starting spot.

Seven-time Winston Cup champ Dale Earnhardt held down the second spot after a
great run, and perfectly executed stop, in the #3 RCR Chevy with the Wrangler
color scheme from years past. Rusty Wallace came out later in the qualifying
session and moved The Intimidator back to fourth, and then Mark Martin moved
both drivers back a notch with his third fastest attempt.

Dale Jarrett , Geoffrey Bodine, Bill Elliott, Michael Waltrip and Bobby
Hamilton round out the top-10.

Ricky Rudd's qualifying attempt was for nil when the right rear went off the
concrete, onto the asphalt surface, and sent his Tide Ford spinning. Rudd
recovered without damage to complete his run, but his total elapsed time of
just over 2 minutes will put him in the 19th slot.

Ward Burton was the only driver in the group of 20 who finished with no time.
Burton overshot his pit stall and will start 20th.