NASCAR WCUP: Skinner takes the pole at Pocono, Qualifying Notes Attached
24 July 1999
Bud Pole Winner: Mike SkinnerPennsylvania 500
Pocono Raceway
July 23rd, 1999
* Mike Skinner won the NASCAR Winston Cup Bud Pole for the Pennsylvania 500, lapping the 2.5-mile Pocono Raceway in 52.801 seconds at 170.451 mph. Sterling Marlin holds the track-qualifying record of 52.784 seconds at 170.506 mph, set June 18, 1999.
* This is Skinners third career NASCAR Winston Cup Bud Pole and came in his 95th start. His most recent Bud Pole occurred at Daytona in July 1997, 64 races ago.
* This is Skinners first Bud Pole and eighth top-10 qualifying effort of 1999. It is his first Bud Pole and his first top-10 start in six NASCAR Winston Cup races at Pocono.
* Skinner became the 10th different Bud Pole winner in 1999. Jeff Gordon (six) and Bobby Labonte (four) are the only multiple Bud Pole winners in 1999.
* Mark Martin had the second-quickest time with a qualifying lap of 52.917 seconds at 170.078 mph and will join Skinner on the front row for the Pennsylvania 500. This is his 14th top-10 qualifying effort this season and tied his season-best set at Martinsville in April. It is his 20th top-10 qualifying effort in 26 NASCAR Winston Cup races at Pocono, including nine of the last 10 races here.
* This is the 10th Bud Pole for Chevrolet in 1999. Pontiac has five and Ford has three Bud Poles this season. Note: Qualifying was rained out at California.
* The NASCAR Winston Cup Leader Bonus is worth $20,000 to the winner of the Pennsylvania 500 should he also be the points leader after the race.
* Ken Schrader (third) posted his 10th top-10 qualifying effort in 1999. It is his fourth top-10 qualifying effort in the last five races at Pocono.
* Bobby Labonte (fourth) scored his 15th top-10 qualifying effort in 1999, the most of all drivers. It is his eighth top-10 qualifying effort in 14 races at Pocono.
* John Andretti (fifth) posted his sixth top-10 qualifying effort in 1999.
* Skinner and Wally Dallenbach (sixth) posted their season-best qualifying efforts. Martin and Andretti tied their season best.
* Jeff Gordon (seventh) remains the only driver to qualify in the first round in each of the qualifying sessions held this season.
* Ward Burton (eighth) scored his fourth straight top-10 qualifying effort at Pocono.
* There have been 11 different pole winners in the last 12 NASCAR Winston Cup races at Pocono. Jeff Gordon (1996 and 1998 Pocono 500) is the only driver to repeat as the pole winner in the 12-race period.
* Twenty-five of 43 NASCAR Winston Cup races at Pocono have been won from the first four starting positions (58 percent).
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