Gordon takes sixth pole of 2001

By Tim Packman, Turner Sports Interactive
September 7, 2001
5:42 PM EDT (2142 GMT)

RICHMOND, Va. -- If Jeff Gordon can do any wrong as of late, he certainly isn’t showing it.

Jeff Gordon took his fourth career pole at RIR.

With Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd on board, Gordon laid down a fast lap of 124.902 mph (21.617 seconds) around Richmond International Raceway’s .750-mile oval to garner the Bud Pole Award for Saturday night’s Monte Carlo 400 with Looney Tunes.

Gordon was fifth fastest during the practice session earlier in the day. In laying down the fast lap, he knocked Rusty Wallace off the top starting spot.

Lineup  Chevy Monte Carlo 400  Looney Tunes!  Park out 4-6 weeks  Houston misses race  Last Six: Gordon 1st  Video: Gordon 1st  Video: Ward Burton 5th  Video: Dale Jr. 8th  Richmond Int. Raceway  Jeff Gordon bear: $20

For the sixth time this year and 39th in his career, Gordon will lead the 43-car field to the green flag. Gordon is also the defending race winner.

“We threw a lot of things at this car today,” Gordon said. “We changed springs and shocks. Right now we have a lot of confidence going as far as communication between all of us.”

Gordon, seeking a fourth Winston Cup title, holds a 342-point lead over Ricky Rudd.

“Once we get this type of momentum going on your side, it’s tough to break it," Gordon said. "The last few races have been a combination of us having good race cars and some luck. Those two can be a great combination.”

It seemed fitting that Gordon won the Bud Pole Award with his Bugs Bunny -- his long-eared friend -- aboard.

“I kept saying I wanted the other drivers to be chasing Bugs this weekend,” he said. “Well, at least I know they will be doing that going into Turn 1 on Saturday night.”

Daffy Duck is riding on the No. 30 Chevrolet of Jeff Green. Green qualified 18th.

“Once we get this type of momentum going on your side, it’s tough to break it. The last few races have been a combination of us having good race cars and some luck. Those two can be a great combination.”

Wallace’s lap of 124.510 mph (21.685 seconds) will put him outside of Gordon for Saturday night’s race. If a driver was ever due for a good race, it could arguably be Rusty Wallace.

Wallace, whose lone victory this year came at California, he has suffered his fair share of bad luck this year. Even though he has started no worse than 14th in the last four races, he has tallied finishes of 43rd, 17th, fifth and 22nd.

Rounding out the first five rows will be Sterling Marlin, Jeff Burton, Ward Burton, Bobby Labonte, rookie Casey Atwood, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Rudd and rookie Ron Hornaday.

Saturday’s race begins at 8 p.m. and can be seen live on TNT and heard on MRN Radio.