Mayfield grabs Dover pole

Mayfield was fastest in practice, with Newman second and Brian Vickers third. The qualifying results pretty much followed the practice precedents through the top 10, the lone surprise being Brendan Gaughan, who gained half a second on his timed laps and qualifying fifth.

Two drivers who could have bid for top-10s crashed out in the trials. Greg Biffle scratched the wall on his first lap, waving off and bringing caution. Michael Waltrip, second behind Newman on his first lap, wrecked hard, demolishing his car. He ended up eighth, but will have to fall to the rear Sunday in the back-up car.

Waltrip has been subject of media rumors, based on comments by DEI team-mate and "executive" Dale Earnhardt Jr., who this week refused to give Michael a vote of confidence in his future with the No. 15 team. Waltrip can win at the restricted tracks but has run inconsistently elsewhere.

Behind Mayfield, Newman and Vickers was Rusty Wallace, followed by Gaughan, Elliott Sadler, Mark Martin, Waltrip (officially), Jamie McMurray and Tony Stewart. Newman won both races here last year.

Mayfield spoke with the attitude of a competitor with something to prove. After his discharge from Penske racing after three wins in four years, he had spent a middling two seasons with Evernham Motorsports, first in the shadow of veteran Bill Elliott, then in the shadow of red-hot rookie Kasey Kahne.

"I don't think I can tell you how happy I am to sit on the pole," he said. "A victory like this goes a long way for the team. It shows we can get the job done. I felt like a couple of weeks ago was our turning point. This team as a whole, we've got a lot to prove."