Biffle edges Keller for Milwaukee pole

WEST ALLIS, Wis. -- Greg Biffle picked up right where he left off by capturing the Bud Pole Award for the GNC Live Well 250 for the NASCAR Busch Series at the Milwaukee Mile.

STATS GNC Live Well 250 Lineup

Biffle, driver of the No. 60 Grainger Ford, coursed the one-mile oval at 121.770 mph (29.564 sec) to garner his fourth career pole and second of 2002.

Biffle is also the defending race winner here after starting in the outside pole position last year. Jason Keller qualified second at 121.544 mph -- he is using the same car he won with at Richmond and Nazareth earlier this year.

Biffle likes his chances and the thought of being the first repeat winner in the 11 years the Busch Series has raced here.

"That was a really good lap," Biffle said. "You know how you always try for a little bit more on your second lap? Well, that's what I did and I was faster all around the track except coming out of Turn 4, I picked the throttle up a little too fast.

"I really like this race track and always seem to run well here. It would be really cool to be the first repeat winner here, too. I like setting those kinds of records."

Keller feels that same confidence after his qualifying run.

"We ran just a litte bit faster than we did in practice," Keller said. "I can't complain too much. Biffle just squeezed his car a little harder than I did.

"I didn't feel like it was a perfect lap. I felt if someone got up on the wheel they could have beaten my time. We only practiced our race set ups this morning.

"I feel very good and confident about the race."

Inside the second row is Wisconsin native Tim Sauter with his lap of 120.964 mph. Sauter is one of four Sauters that will be taking the green flag on Sunday.

Jay Sauter qualified fifth, Johnny Sauter was ninth and Jim Sauter was 10th.

Provisionals were used by Bobby Hamilton Jr., Nick Woodward, Mike Harmon, Brian Weber, Phil Bonifield, Bill Hoff and Brad Mueller. The only car that didn't make the race was Brian Ross.