It was the first time he has taken pole in a Nextel Cup race since Michigan in 1991, almost 450 races ago, and the third in his career. 2004 Nextel Cup champion Kurt Busch was second fastest, ahead of Brian Vickers, Jamie McMurray and Scott Riggs.
Waltrip's Chevrolet was fast, but some other Chevrolet drivers favoured to do well were not. Jimmie Johnson was 21st fastest as he attempts to score his third successive win at the track.
Johnson's teammate Jeff Gordon will start 31st after scraping the wall, while pole sitter Waltrip's teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr is even further down the order in 34th.
In other NASCAR news, Busch qualifying was cancelled due to rain.
Qualifying for the Pocono 500 - Pocono Raceway:
Pos Driver Make Speed 1. Michael Waltrip Chevrolet 169.052 2. Kurt Busch Ford 168.678 3. Brian Vickers Chevrolet 168.334 4. Jamie McMurray Dodge 167.842 5. Scott Riggs Chevrolet 167.563 6. Jeremy Mayfield Dodge 167.060 7. Bobby Labonte Chevrolet 167.035 8. Kevin Harvick Chevrolet 166.988 9. Mike Bliss Chevrolet 166.960 10. Matt Kenseth Ford 166.837 11. Scott Wimmer Dodge 166.784 12. Rusty Wallace Dodge 166.722 13. Mark Martin Ford 166.688 14. Sterling Marlin Dodge 166.549 15. Kasey Kahne Dodge 166.516 16. Dale Jarrett Ford 166.365 17. Ryan Newman Dodge 166.340 18. Joe Nemechek Chevrolet 166.227 19. Ken Schrader Dodge 166.180 20. Casey Mears Dodge 166.003 21. Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet 165.902 22. Jeff Burton Chevrolet 165.893 23. Greg Biffle Ford 165.853 24. Bobby Hamilton Jr Chevrolet 165.853 25. Elliott Sadler Ford 165.758 26. Tony Stewart Chevrolet 165.721 27. Robby Gordon Chevrolet 165.685 28. Terry Labonte Chevrolet 165.615 29. Carl Edwards Ford 165.551 30. Jason Leffler Chevrolet 165.456 31. Jeff Gordon Chevrolet 165.356 32. Ricky Rudd Ford 165.122 33. Travis Kvapil Dodge 165.004 34. Dale Earnhardt Jr Chevrolet 164.871 35. Jeff Green Dodge 164.633 36. Mike Garvey Ford 164.606 37. Dave Blaney Chevrolet 164.528 38. Kyle Busch Chevrolet 164.519 39. Kevin Lepage Dodge 163.863 40. Kyle Petty Dodge 163.812 41. Greg Sacks Dodge 163.413 42. Mike Wallace Chevrolet 162.180 43. Morgan Shepherd Dodge 162.967
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