Ward Burton in the MBNA Grand Prix shattered Jeff Gordon's 1995 track record in first round qualifying for the Transouth Financial 400.
The first 25 positions are locked in. Second round qualifying is set for Saturday morning.
Burton's speed of 173.797 mph tops Gordon's speed that was set last spring. Gordon had set the record with a speed of 170.833 mph.
The pole is Burton's second career Winston Cup pole and earns him a spot in the 1997 Busch Clash. His first pole came at Charlotte on October 5, 1994 while driving the Hardee's Monte Carlo.
The 1995 Winston Cup Champion will start on the outside pole.
Pos # Driver Sponsor Time MPH
1 22 Ward Burton MBNA Grand Prix *Track Record* 28.295 173.797
2 24 Jeff Gordon DuPont Monte Carlo 28.325 173.613
3 88 Dale Jarrett Ford Quality Care Thunderbird 28.527 172.384
4 75 Morgan Shepherd Remington Arms Thunderbird 28.640 171.704
5 94 Bill Elliott McDonalds Thunderbird 28.652 171.632
6 25 Ken Schrader Budweiser Monte Carlo 28.657 171.602
7 81 Kenny Wallace Square D/TIC Financial Thunderbird 28.686 171.429
8 2 Rusty Wallace Miller Thunderbird 28.687 171.423
9 98 Jeremy Mayfield RCA Thunderbird 28.704 171.321
10 27 Elton Sawyer David Blair Motorsports Thunderbird 28.705 171.315
11 1 Rick Mast Hooters Grand Prix 28.708 171.297
12 23 Jimmy Spencer Camel Thunderbird 28.731 171.160
13 18 Bobby Labonte Interstate Batteries Monte Carlo 28.732 171.154
14 41 Ricky Craven Kodiak Monte Carlo 28.746 171.071
15 11 Brett Bodine Lowe's Thunderbird 28.746 171.071
16 6 Mark Martin Valvoline Thunderbird 28.747 171.065
17 5 Terry Labonte Kelloggs Monte Carlo 28.749 171.053
18 16 Ted Musgrave Family Chnl/Primestar Thunderbird 28.758 170.999
19 7 Geoff Bodine QVC Thunderbird 28.779 170.875
20 12 Derrike Cope Straight Arrow Thunderbird 28.782 170.857
21 99 Jeff Burton Exide Batteries Thunderbird 28.804 170.726
22 19 Dick Trickle Healthsource Thunderbird 28.805 170.720
23 43 Bobby Hamilton STP Grand Prix 28.809 170.697
24 10 Ricky Rudd Tide/Downy Thunderbird 28.826 170.596
25 9 Lake Speed Spam Thunderbird 28.828 170.584
26 3 Dale Earnhardt GM Goodwrench Service Monte Carlo 28.891 170.212
27 29 Steve Grissom Cartoon Network Monte Carlo 28.963 169.789
28 21 Michael Waltrip CITGO Thunderbird 28.972 169.736
29 17 Darrell Waltrip Parts America Monte Carlo 28.972 169.736
30 33 Robert Pressley Skoal Bandit Monte Carlo 28.985 169.660
31 28 Ernie Irvan Texaco Havoline Thunderbird 28.987 169.648
32 4 Sterling Marlin Kodak Film Monte Carlo 29.000 169.572
33 8 Hut Stricklin Circuit City Thunderbird 29.016 169.479
34 37 John Andretti Kmart/Little Caesars Thunderbird 29.034 169.374
35 15 Wally Dallenbach Hayes Modem Thunderbird 29.053 169.263
36 30 Johnny Benson Jr Pennzoil Grand Prix 29.079 169.112
37 95 Chuck Bown Shoney's Thunderbird 29.132 168.804
38 77 Bobby Hillin Jasper/Federal Mogul Thunderbird 29.139 168.764
39 42 Kyle Petty Coors Light Grand Prix 29.189 168.474
40 87 Joe Nemechek Burger King Monte Carlo 29.202 168.399
41 71 Dave Marcis Prodigy Monte Carlo 29.254 168.100
42 90 Mike Wallace Heilig Meyers Thunderbird 29.261 168.060
43 78 Randy MacDonald Diamond Rio/Hanes Thunderbird 29.864 164.666
44 02 Robbie Faggart Miles Motorsports Monte CArlo 30.061 163.587
