Mark Martin has won his third consecutive pole at Bristol International Raceway. He won both poles last year. It is his fifth career pole at BIR and 29th overall. It is the first pole for Ford this year. Chevrolets won the first three, followed the last two weeks by Pontiacs. Todays speed didn't beat the record held by - Mark Martin (125.093mph)
This will be Martin's 300 career Winston Cup start.
Martin will be eligible for the Unocal Bonus of $121,600. He will earn the bonus by winning the race frm the pole. 17 previous Bristol events have been won from the pole - the most of any starting position.
His last pole came here - last August.
"It's all about handling - and we're handling," commented Martin following his winning pole run. "I've always liked banked race tracks - and this one is banked. We used the same setup for all three runs - even though Goodyear has a new tire for this race. We didn't turn a screw."
The first 25 positions are locked in.
Pos # Driver Sponsor Time MPH
1 6 Mark Martin Valvoline Thunderbird 15.527 123.578
2 5 Terry Labonte Kelloggs Monte Carlo 15.610 122 921
3 17 Darrell Waltrip Parts America Monte Carlo 15.627 122.787
4 4 Sterling Marlin Kodak Film Monte Carlo 15.637 122.709
5 18 Bobby Labonte Interstate Batteries Monte Carlo 15.653 122.584
6 31 Mike Skinner Realtree Camouflage Monte Carlo 15.653 122.584
7 88 Dale Jarrett Ford Quality Care Thunderbird 15.657 122.552
8 24 Jeff Gordon DuPont Monte Carlo 15.677 122.396
9 10 Ricky Rudd Tide/Downy Thunderbird 15.678 122.388
10 81 Kenny Wallace Square D/TIC Financial Thunderbird 15.690 122.294
11 2 Rusty Wallace Miller Thunderbird 15.704 122.185
12 22 Ward Burton MBNA Grand Prix 15.709 122.147
13 41 Ricky Craven Kodiak Monte Carlo 15.710 122.139
14 8 Hut Stricklin Circuit City Thunderbird 15.713 122.115
15 23 Jimmy Spencer Camel Thunderbird 15.716 122.092
16 28 Ernie Irvan Texaco Havoline Thunderbird 15.726 122.014
17 12 Derrike Cope Straight Arrow Thunderbird 15.727 122.007
18 75 Morgan Shepherd Remington Arms Thunderbird 15.728 121.999
19 3 Dale Earnhardt GM Goodwrench Service Monte Carlo 15.730 121.983
20 87 Joe Nemechek Burger King Monte Carlo 15.743 121.883
21 7 Geoff Bodine QVC Thunderbird 15.744 121 875
22 11 Brett Bodine Lowe's Thunderbird 15.760 121.751
23 33 Robert Pressley Skoal Bandit Monte Carlo 15.761 121.744
24 43 Bobby Hamilton STP Grand Prix 15.765 121.713
25 21 Michael Waltrip CITGO Thunderbird 15.779 121.674
26 9 Lake Speed Spam Thunderbird 15.774 121.643
27 27 Elton Sawyer David Blair Motorsport Thunderbird 15.790 121.520
28 25 Ken Schrader Budweiser Monte Carlo 15.791 121.512
29 16 Ted Musgrave Family Chnl/Primestar Thunderbird 15.806 121.397
30 15 Wally Dallenbach Hayes Modem Thunderbird 15.832 121.198
31 1 Rick Mast Hooters Grand Prix 15.838 121.152
32 37 John Andretti Kmart/Little Caesars Thunderbird 15.838 121.152
33 71 Dave Marcis Prodigy Monte Carlo 15.848 121.075
34 95 Chuck Bown Shoney's Thunderbird 15.848 121.075
35 98 Jeremy Mayfield RCA Thunderbird 15.856 121.014
36 29 Steve Grissom Cartoon Network Monte Carlo 15.864 120.953
37 90 Mike Wallace Heilig Meyers Thunderbird 15.906 120.634
38 77 Bobby Hillin Jasper/Federal Mogul Thunderbird 15.926 120.482
39 30 Johnny Benson Jr Pennzoil Grand Prix 15.939 120.384
40 99 Jeff Burton Exide Batteries Thunderbird 15.947 120.324
41 42 Kyle Petty Coors Light Grand Prix 15.989 120.008
42 94 Bill Elliott McDonalds Thunderbird 15.991 119.992
43 19 Dick Trickle Healthsource Thunderbird 16.010 119.850
