Cook holds off Leffler for Power Stroke 200 pole

Power Stroke Diesel 200 Lineup

CLERMONT, Ind. -- Terry Cook showed his improved qualifying prowess by capturing the Bud Pole Award for the Craftsman Truck Series Power Stroke Diesel 200 at Indianapolis Raceway Park.

Cook, driver of the No. 29 Power Stroke Diesel Ford, laid down a lap of 108.549 mph (22.751 sec) around the .686-mile track. This is his second pole of the year, third at a short track and fifth of his career.

After posting the fastest practice time, Cook held off Jason Leffler for the top spot in the afternoon qualifying session. Leffler drove the No. 2 ASE Dodge around the short track in 108.240 mph (22.816 sec) as he fell one spot shy of obtaining his eighth pole of the year.

Mike Bliss, who won the USAC Silver Crown race here on Thursday night, qualified third and will have Robert Pressley outside of him for the race.

Notable qualifiers were three-time Winston Cup Series champion Darrell Waltrip and current Winston Cup team owner Andy Petree. Waltrip will start 14th in the No. 17 Tide Ford with Petree lining up 17th in the No. 33 Chevrolet.

Of the 41 trucks that attempted to make the race Dude Teate, Clay Collier, Jay Sherston, Bob Coffey Jr. and Tom Powers failed to make the 36-truck field. Powers crashed the No. 55 Dodge in practice and Coffey Jr. had mechanical problems and neither made a qualifying attempt.

Blake Mallory, Teri McDonald, Dana White and Lone Richardson used provisionals.