Biffle’s Pole Ushers in New Speed Era at Darlington: 41 Drivers Break Track Record
By Bram • May 9th, 2008 • Category: NASCAR, Notes, Results, Sprint Cup Series
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Dodge Challenger 500
Darlington Raceway
Qualifying Fast Facts
Pole Winner: Greg Biffle
Age: 38
Team: No. 16 3M Ford
Owner: Jack Roush
Crew Chief: Greg Erwin
Greg Biffle won the Coors Light Pole Award for the Dodge Challenger 500 with a lap of 27.405 seconds, 179.442 mph.
Biffle broke Ward Burton’s track qualifying record of 28.295 seconds, 173.797 mph – set March 22, 1996, in the first qualifying session after the last re-paving of Darlington raceway. Burton’s was the longest standing qualifying record at an active, non-restrictor-plate track. The top-41 times bettered Burton’s speed.
This is his fifth pole in 197 career NASCAR Sprint Cup races.
This is his first pole and second top-10 start in 2008.
This is Biffle’s first pole and sixth top-10 start in eight races at Darlington Raceway.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. (second) posted his sixth top-10 start of 2008 and his fourth in 14 Darlington races.
Jimmie Johnson (third) posted his sixth top-10 start in 10 races at Darlington. This is his 11th top-10 start of the 2008 season.
Dave Blaney (13th) was the fastest of the drivers required to make the field on time.
Regan Smith (16th) was the fastest qualifying rookie.
Starting Line Up by Row
Darlington Raceway
Dodge Challenger 500
Driver Date Time Speed
Track Race Record: Dale Earnhardt 03/28/93 03:33:29 139.958
Pos Car Driver Team Time Speed
Row 1: 1 16 Greg Biffle 3M Ford 27.405 179.442
2 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Mountain Dew/AMP Energy/National Guard 27.418 179.357
Row 2: 3 48 Jimmie Johnson Lowe’s Chevrolet 27.441 179.206
4 20 Tony Stewart Home Depot Toyota 27.461 179.076
Row 3: 5 2 Kurt Busch Miller Lite Dodge 27.478 178.965
6 18 Kyle Busch M&M’s Indiana Jones Toyota 27.502 178.809
Row 4: 7 19 Elliott Sadler McDonald’s Dodge 27.607 178.129
8 24 Jeff Gordon DuPont Chevrolet 27.616 178.071
Row 5: 9 66 Scott Riggs State Water Heaters Chevrolet 27.617 178.064
10 43 Bobby Labonte Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge 27.662 177.775
Row 6: 11 29 Kevin Harvick Shell/Pennzoil Chevrolet 27.668 177.736
12 31 Jeff Burton AT&T Mobility Chevrolet 27.680 177.659
Row 7: 13 22 Dave Blaney Caterpillar Toyota 27.735 177.307
14 40 Sterling Marlin Dodge Challenger Dodge 27.762 177.134
Row 8: 15 6 David Ragan AAA Insurance Ford 27.766 177.109
16 01 Regan Smith # Principal Financial Group/DEI Chevrolet 27.766 177.109
Row 9: 17 78 Joe Nemechek Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet 27.771 177.077
18 00 Michael McDowell # Brain Cancer Action Week Toyota 27.772 177.070
Row 10: 19 42 Juan Pablo Montoya Wrigley’s Big Red Dodge 27.811 176.822
20 21 Bill Elliott Motorcraft Ford 27.818 176.778
Row 11: 21 11 Denny Hamlin FedEx Ground Toyota 27.840 176.638
22 1 Martin Truex Jr. Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Chevrolet 27.845 176.606
Row 12: 23 77 Sam Hornish Jr. # Mobil 1 Dodge 27.849 176.581
24 28 Travis Kvapil Lafayette Ford Ford 27.851 176.568
Row 13: 25 26 Jamie McMurray Crown Royal Ford 27.862 176.498
26 84 AJ Allmendinger Red Bull Toyota 27.866 176.473
Row 14: 27 8 Mark Martin U.S. Army Chevrolet 27.884 176.359
28 83 Brian Vickers Red Bull Toyota 27.896 176.283
Row 15: 29 5 Casey Mears Kellogg’s/CARQUEST Chevrolet 27.914 176.170
30 44 David Reutimann UPS Toyota 27.921 176.126
Row 16: 31 96 J.J. Yeley DLP HDTV Toyota 27.965 175.848
32 12 Ryan Newman alltel Dodge 27.994 175.666
Row 17: 33 38 David Gilliland freecreditreport.com Ford 28.008 175.578
34 17 Matt Kenseth DeWalt NANO Ford 28.016 175.528
Row 18: 35 45 Kyle Petty Marathon American Spirit Motor Oil Dodge 28.073 175.172
36 99 Carl Edwards Claritin Ford 28.182 174.494
Row 19: 37 55 Michael Waltrip NAPA Auto Parts Toyota 28.221 174.253
38 07 Clint Bowyer Jack Daniel’s Chevrolet 28.223 174.241
Row 20: 39 41 Reed Sorenson Target Dodge 28.320 173.644
40 7 Robby Gordon Jim Beam Dodge Owner Points
Row 21: 41 15 Paul Menard Menards/Nibco Chevrolet Owner Points
42 9 Kasey Kahne Budweiser Dodge Owner Points
Row 22: 43 10 Patrick Carpentier # LifeLock Dodge 28.074 175.166
Did Not Qualify: # 70 Johnny Sauter; # 34 Jeff Green.
Manufacturer Starting Lineup DNQs
Chevrolet 13 2 Ford 8 0
Dodge 12 0 Toyota 10 0
