KURT BUSCH STARTING 16TH IN PEPSI 400 AT DAYTONA
-Miller Lite Dodge Driver Confident Of Strong Car Entering Saturday Night’s Race Under Lights-
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (June 30, 2006) – Miller Lite Dodge driver Kurt Busch was quick to point to the “style” of racing prevalent here at Daytona International Speedway after qualifying 16th here today for Saturday night’s Pepsi 400.
“It’s an impound race, so you really don’t know what some of those guys starting up front have for the race,” Busch said after turning in a lap of 184.494 mph (48.782 seconds) late in the qualifying session here today that lasted some three hours. “We never messed with trying any kind of qualifying setup and focused solely on our race trim.
“We’ll race with what we have in the car and I can honestly say that I don’t know that’s the case with some of them up there in front of us,” said KB. “We’re confident with the way our car handled in practice. We’re definitely looking to hook up and draft (with the 12 car). Ryan in front of me, me in front, either way. We just have to have good communication on pit stops as far as who is coming in when. I’m used to a program that has five cars and you can always count on coming in with somebody, but Ryan and I need to hook up.”
Boris Said was the surprise pole winner here today after turning in a lap of 186.143 mph (48.350 seconds). Tony Stewart will start second (185.651 mph/48.478 seconds), rookie David Stremme third (185.579 mph/48.497 seconds), Jeff Gordon fourth (185.506 mph/48.516 seconds) and Joe Nemechek fifth (185.464 mph/48.527 seconds). Denny Hamlin, Dale Jarrett, Martin Truex Jr., Jimmie Johnson and Matt Kenseth rounded out today’s top 10 qualifiers.
Starting 11th through 20th, in order, will be J.J. Yeley, Greg Biffle, Elliott Sadler, Kyle Busch, Travis Kvapil, KB, Brian Vickers, Mike Wallace, Michael Waltrip and Sterling Marlin. Newman will start 23rd.
Saturday night’s Pepsi 400 (160 laps) has a 7:55 p.m. EDT starting time and features live coverage by FOX-TV and MRN Radio.
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