Dover qualifying results

QUALIFYING RESULTS:
1. Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet, 23.053 seconds, 156.162 miles per hour
2. Scott Riggs, Chevrolet, 23.068 seconds, 156.060 miles per hour
3. Matt Kenseth, Ford, 23.079 seconds, 155.986 miles per hour
4. Ryan Newman, Dodge, 23.096 seconds, 155.871 miles per hour
5. Joe Nemechek, Chevrolet, 23.158 seconds, 155.454 miles per hour
17. Kyle Petty, Dodge, 23.327 seconds, 154.328 miles per hour
26. Bobby Labonte, Dodge, 23.385 seconds, 153.945 miles per hour

Bobby Labonte and the #43 Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge qualified 26th on Friday at the fast, concrete-surfaced Dover (Del.) International Speedway. Labonte and the team were 31st in practice this afternoon. Labonte qualifying lap was his fastest lap of the day. He completed that run on his first qualifying lap.

“That lap was better than last time we were here in the summer,” said Labonte. “We were just a little loose. We worked on it and have been getting better. We knew what were had going in. It’s getting better.”

Petty and the #45 Wells Fargo Dodge team easily qualified themselves into Sunday’s 400-lap race. Petty was one of the fastest cars at Dover all afternoon. The Bill Wiburn-led team was the 12th fastest team in practice. Petty then ran a lap nearly duplicate of his practice time. The lap was good enough for the 17th fastest-time of the day.

“That was pretty close to practice,” said Petty. “This was all the guys today. I knew we were a little loose going in, but that’s alright. It was still a pretty good lap. Billy (Wilburn) has done a great job with this team in a short time. We’re looking for consistent finishes starting on Sunday. We feel pretty good right now.”

Jeff Gordon tallied his 55th pole Friday afternoon. Gordon is looking to lock down his fifth Nextel Cup championship and it currently in the mix of the ‘chase’ for the Nextel Cup. Gordon beat Scott Riggs for the pole. Championship contender Matt Kenseth qualified third.

Teams will have two final practice sessions on Saturday before Sunday’s 400-mile race. Sunday’s race will be televised live nationally on TNT and broadcast on MRN Radio.