Qualifying: Jarrett continues run of form

Jarrett, the 1999 champion, scored his first win of the season last week at Pocono and lapped in 38.081sec (189.071mph), nearly 3mph behind Dale Earnhardt Jr's track record.

Jarrett was the 17th driver to qualify, knocking Michael Waltrip out of the top spot. Rain, which had threatened all day, wet the track just after Jarrett did his bit, interrupting the session for almost two hours. Earnhardt Jr was third fastest at 38.152s. Bill Elliott and Ward Burton, fourth and fifth, also made their runs after the rain.

Jarrett shed little sweat in waiting for qualifying to end. "I watched the U.S. Open most of the time, so it didn't really bother me. I was back and forth between that and qualifying, but, yeah, I wasn't really nervous about it."

Geoff Bodine sat in for younger brother Todd, who had a conflict with the Busch Series race at Cincinnati, and qualified 17th. Points leader Sterling Marlin continues to struggle in qualifying lately and had to take an option spot, starting 37th. Marlin won here in the rain-abbreviated race last August, giving Dodge its first win.


1 Dale Jarrett, UPS Ford, 38.081sec/189.071mph
2 Michael Waltrip, NAPA Chevrolet, 38.137/188.793
3 Dale Earnhardt Jr, Budweiser Chevrolet, 38.147/188.744
4 Bill Elliott, Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge, 38.152/188.719
5 Ward Burton, Caterpillar Dodge, 38.164.177.659
6 Ryan Newman, ALLTEL Ford, 38.181/188.575
7 Elliott Sadler, Motorcraft Ford, 38.189/188.536
8 Ricky Craven, Tide Ford, 38.242/188.275
9 Mark Martin, Viagra Ford, 38.260/188.186
10 Tony Stewart, Home Depot Pontiac, 38.361/187.691
11 John Andretti, Cheerios Dodge, 38.378/187.607
12 Kurt Busch, Rubbermaid Ford, 38.393/187.534
13 Jimmy Spencer, Target Dodge, 38.394/187.529
14 Jimmie Johnson, Lowe's Chevrolet, 38.395/187.524
15 Mike Skinner, Kodak Chevrolet, 38.471/187.154
16 Steve Park, Pennzoil Chevrolet, 38.479/187.115
17 Geoggrey Bodine, Discover Card Ford, 38.479/187.115
18 Bobby Labonte, Interstate Batteries Pontiac, 38.483/187.096
19 Kevin Harvick, GM Goodwrench Chevrolet, 38.483/187.096
20 Matt Kenseth, DeWalt Tools Ford, 38.500/187.013
21 Brett Bodine, Hooters Ford, 38.534/186.848
22 Hut Stricklin, Hills Bros Dodge, 38.550/186.770
23 Dave Blaney, Jasper Engines Ford, 38.615/186.456
24 Jeff Gordon, DuPont Chevrolet, 38.617/186.446
25 Rusty Wallace, Miller Lite Ford, 38.629/186.388
26 Ricky Rudd, Havoline Ford, 38.655/186.263
27 Kyle Petty, Sprint Dodge, 38.660/186.239
28 Bobby Hamilton, Schneider Electric Chevrolet, 38.677/186.157
29 Joe Nemechek, UAW/Delphi Chevrolet, 38.703/186.032
30 Johnny Benson, Valvoline Pontiac, 38.708/186.008
31 Jeremy Mayfield, Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge, 38.711/185.994
32 Jeff Burton, CITGO Ford, 38.712/185.989
33 Stacy Compton, Conseco Pontiac, 38.742/185.845
34 Jeff Green, America Online Chevrolet, 38.751/185.802
35 Robby Gordon, Cingular Chevrolet, 38.772/185.701
36 Ken Schrader, M&Ms Pontiac, 38.828/185.433
37 Sterling Marlin, Coors Light Dodge, provisional
38 Terry Labonte, Kellogg's Chevrolet, provisional
39 Casey Atwood, Sirius Dodge, provisional
40 Steve Grissom, Georgia Pacific Dodge, provisional
41 Jason Small, Key West Aloe Dodge, provisional
42 Derrike Cope, WNR/Alabama Ford, provisional
43 Gary Bradberry, Ford, provisional