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Rudd starts on pole at Las Vegas

After starting on the outside of the front row twice this season, Ricky Rudd, piloting the #28 Texaco/Havoline Ford for Robert Yates Racing, was fastest in Bud Pole qualifying for the CarsDirect.com 400 on Friday afternoon at the 1.5-mile Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Rudd completed his tour in 31.293 seconds, an average speed of 172.563 mph, and broke the track record set by Bobby Labonte last March by 1.120 mph.

Rudd's last pole was at North Carolina Speedway last February, 35 races ago.

Second-best starter for Sunday's event is Scott Pruett, driving the #32 Cal Wells Ford showing Rudd's former primary sponsor, Tide, and the main reason Rudd is now driving for Robert Yates.

Ironic as that may seem, Pruett, a Raybestos Rookie of the Year contender, failed to even make the grid for the Dura Lube/Kmart 400 last weekend at North Carolina Speedway.

Pruett's lap was 0.182 mph slower.

Another Raybestos Rookie of the year contender will line up behind Rudd.

Dale Earnhardt, Jr. was the next in a group of eight total who surpassed Labonte's 1999 record.

Earnhardt's effort on Friday gives him his best NASCAR Winston Cup Series career start and his third straight top-10 qualifying effort.

Last weekend's race winner, Bobby Labonte, will start alongside the Young Earnhardt.

Mark Martin, Dale Jarrett, Michael Waltrip, Johnny Benson, Jerry Nadeau and Jeff Gordon round out the top-10 for Sunday's race.

The top-10 is comprised of four Fords, four Chevrolets and two Pontiacs. John Andretti is shown in 49th after first-round.

Andretti's #43 STP/Cheerios Pontiac powerplant went sour leaving Andretti with a DNF.

Bud second round qualifying is scheduled for Saturday morning at 11:30 PT.

Twenty-four teams will need to make a decision whether to stand on time or attempt to better their time in first-round.

Hank Parker, Jr. snagged the Bud Pole for the Sam's Town 300 NASCAR Busch Series, Grand National race on Saturday.

Parker's lap at 166.328 mph was just 0.053 second faster than Mark Martin.

Following Parker and Martin to round out the top-10 are Kevin Grubb, Jeff Green, Todd Bodine, Joe Nemechek, Jeff Burton, Mike Borkowski, Jason Leffler and Mike Dillon.

Anthony Lazarro, Kenny Irwin, Jay Sauter, Rich Bickle, Boris Said, Gus Wasson, Steve Park, Tony Roper, Hermie Sadler, Shane Hall, Mike Skinner and Dave Steele failed to qualify.

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