NHRA: Rain helps Russell earn first career pole

POMONA, Calif. (Nov. 9) -- Second-year Top Fuel driver Darrell Russell 
has captured the first Budweiser Low Qualifier award of his career after 
relentless rain forced the outright cancellation of the final three 
qualifying sessions of the Auto Club Finals. Russell's solo blast of 
4.571 seconds at 313.22 mph from Thursday afternoon set the early mark 
and Mother Nature took care of the rest, awarding Russell's Bilstein 
Engine Flush team a $4,000 bonus from Anheuser Busch.

"It's a bit of a lucky break for us," Russell said, "because I know 
there are plenty of cars here that probably could have run quicker then 
that given the opportunity. At the same time, there's no reason to think 
we couldn't have stepped it up a bit also. I clicked it off at 
4.3-seconds so I know we had some more left in this Bilstein Engine 
Flush dragster.

"Either way we're thrilled to earn our first Budweiser Low Qualifier 
check. That's been a goal for this team ever since Wayne Dupuy took over 
as crew chief and I know the guys are happy to get it in before the year 
is up."

Russell will open eliminations against Andrew Cowin, who was added to 
the field of the Auto Club Finals according to the rules regarding 
shortened qualifying sessions at national events. Cowin's only pass was 
an aborted 9.821 at 81.44 mph, which had left him outside the field in 
18th place. But as a top-10 points earner, Cowin was inserted in place 
of final qualifier Clay Millican. Russell is a perfect 8-0 against Cowin.

"We all wanted to get some more laps in but I can say I'm very happy the 
NHRA has made the decision to let us race," Russell said. "We know that 
not a lot of cars have gone down the track so far and it'll be 
interesting to see what happens in the morning. I'm glad we can pick 
what pair we want to be because I'd hate to be the first one out there. 
That's the biggest reward of being the No. 1 qualifier. It's my first 
one and it couldn't have come at a better time. Cowin's car has been 
running good here lately and he's not the first-round opponent I would 
have picked, but it is what it is."

The rain also has forced the postponement of today's scheduled Budweiser 
Shootout, a special race for the top eight qualifiers from the last year 
that would have featured Russell squaring off in the opening session 
against retiring legend Kenny Bernstein. The Shootout will now be run 
during the 2003 season-opening Winternationals in February with Russell 
racing Bernstein's son Brandon, who is set to replace his father in the 
seat of the family's dragster.

Sunday's sudden-death elimination action will be broadcast from 5-7 p.m. 
(ET) on ESPN, and will continue from 7-8 p.m. (ET) on ESPN2.