Qualifying: Martin takes hot pole at Richmond
Mark Martin will start from the front of the pack in Sunday's 400-mile race at the Richmond International raceway after claiming his second pole position of the 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup series
Martin hustled his Ford Taurus round the 0.750 mile oval with a lap of 124.667mph, closely followed by Rusty Wallace and Ricky Rudd to create a Ford lock-out on the top three spots.
"We were way too tight the first lap," said Wallace, who won last week at Fontana. "I drove it in too hard and got it pushing way up."
The cars ran in very humid conditions, keeping speeds well below the track record. Steve Park came home fourth as the highest non-Ford driver in his Dale Earnhardt Inc Chevrolet, with Jimmy Spencer close behind in fifth.
Jeff Gordon, who currently lies second in the points standings, snatched sixth place with Tony Stewart in seventh while championship leader Dale Jarrett finished a lowly 20th.
Defending champion Bobby Labonte will also have his work cut out in Sunday's race after qualifying ninth, just ahead of Ward Burton who rounded out the top 10.
Mark Martin Ford 21.667s 124.6135mph
Rusty Wallace Ford 21.67s 124.5962mph
Ricky Rudd Ford 21.688s 124.4928mph
Steve Park Chevrolet 21.763s 124.0638mph
Jimmy Spencer Ford 21.764s 124.0581mph
Jeff Gordon Chevrolet 21.781s 123.9613mph
Tony Stewart Pontiac 21.799s 123.8589mph
Bill Elliott Dodge / Dodge Dealers 21.815s 123.768mph
Bobby Labonte Pontiac 21.825s 123.711mph
Ward Burton Dodge 21.828s 123.694mph
Johnny Benson Pontiac 21.831s 123.677mph
Michael Waltrip Chevrolet 21.862s 123.502mph
Ricky Craven Ford 21.874s 123.434mph
Dale Earnhardt Jr Chevrolet 21.878s 123.411mph
Sterling Marlin Dodge 21.907s 123.248mph
Kyle Petty Dodge 21.92s 123.175mph
Jeff Burton Ford 21.921s 123.169mph
Brett Bodine Ford 21.931s 123.113mph
Matt Kenseth Ford 21.949s 123.012mph
Dale Jarrett Ford 21.957s 122.967mph
Ken Schrader Pontiac 21.961s 122.945mph
Rick Mast Chevrolet 21.976s 122.861mph
Robert Pressley Ford 21.979s 122.844mph
Mike Skinner Chevrolet 21.985s 122.811mph
Kenny Wallace Pontiac 21.988s 122.794mph
Bobby Hamilton Chevrolet 21.992s 122.771mph
Kevin Lepage Chevrolet 22.006s 122.693mph
Jason Leffler * Dodge 22.029s 122.565mph
Jerry Nadeau Chevrolet 22.03s 122.560mph
Terry Labonte Chevrolet 22.04s 122.504mph
Kurt Busch * Ford 22.044s 122.4823mph
Kevin Harvick * Chevrolet 22.059s 122.399mph
Mike Wallace Ford 22.08s 122.282mph
Andy Houston * Ford 22.081s 122.277mph
Jeremy Mayfield Ford 22.093s 122.210mph
Elliott Sadler Ford 22.096s 122.1941mph
Joe Nemechek ** Chevrolet
Dave Blaney ** Dodge
John Andretti ** Dodge
Stacy Compton ** Dodge
Ron Hornaday *** Pontiac
Casey Atwood *** Dodge
Todd Bodine **Ford
Buckshot Jones Dodge 22.228s 121.468mph
Hermie Sadler Chevrolet 22.327s 120.93mph
Hut Stricklin Ford 22.357s 120.768mph
Paul Calfe Pontiac 22.957 120.699
* Rookie
** Provisional
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