Skinner takes fourth career pole

Skinner's effort gives him a second Bud Pole Award for the 1999 season, and the fourth of his series career.

Tony Stewart was bumped to the outside of the front row by Skinner's 21.520s at 125.465Mph, just 0.024s faster than Stewart's 21.544s 125.325Mph fast lap.

'The car was awfully good today,' said Skinner, who had to rush to the #9 Yellow Freight Chevrolet for the NASCAR Busch Series Grand National race.

'We wanted to put a Chevy on the pole for Chevrolet (referring to the new race sponsorship next September).

'We led a lot of laps at this racetrack last time. We got a little bit of a cloud there and the racetrack got faster.

'I felt like the track was going to be a little bit quicker. When Bobby (Labonte) put that
number up there, I didn't know if I could beat it or not.'

Stewart had bumped Rusty Wallace who bumped Bobby Labonte, the fourth driver to
qualify at the 0.75-mile track.

Jeff Gordon will start sixth after Geoffrey Bodine managed a fifth place effort.

Bodine had his hands full of loose race car but managed to keep enough control to get a top-five start.

Following Skinner and Stewart to round out the top-10 are Rusty Wallace, Bobby Labonte, Bodine, Gordon, Jeff Burton, Kenny Wallace, Kenny Irwin and Steve Park.

The second round of qualifying is scheduled for Saturday.