Qualifying: Ward Burton on pole

"This is the first short-track in-house chassis that we've built," said Burton, who has had just one other top 10 finish this season. "I'm pretty happy with this team effort."

Dale Earnhardt Jr lines up second just 0.2mph behind Burton and just ahead of Tony Stewart, who won at Richmond in 2001. Jeff Gordon starts fourth as he bids to end his 18-race losing streak - the longest since he started in 1994.

Earlier this week Dale Earnhardt Inc. drivers Steve Park and Michael Waltrip were apparently told heads would roll if performances didn't improve and they responded by qualifying fifth (Park) and 27th (Waltrip). Kyle Petty produced his best qualifying performance in two years to take sixth.

All the top 10 managed to go quicker than Gordon's previous record, and just 0.1s covered the top 12. Points leader Sterling Marlin was unable to get a handle on his car and will start 35th, while Kurt Busch wrecked his race car in practice and had to switch to the spear. He starts from 37th.

For qualifying results, For revised results, click here.