Crawford edges Lester for Bud Pole at Phoenix

AVONDALE, Ariz. -- Rick Crawford won the Bud Pole Award at Phoenix International Raceway on Thursday afternoon by edging rookie Bill Lester by .001 seconds.

	Rick Crawford earned his second pole of the year. Credit: Michelle Mecha/HSP

Crawford, driver of the No. 14 Circle Bar Motel Ford, was the last to qualify for the Chevy Silverado 150 and laid down a lap of 128.329 mph (28.053 sec) on the one-mile oval. Lester, driver of the No. 8 Dodge, was en route to his first pole award until Crawford qualified.

For Crawford, this was his second Bud Pole of the year and second of his career. He also led the morning practice session Thursday with the fast time.

"We gave it all we had," said Crawford. "We didn't run a lot of laps in the morning practice and we knew we were good. We just put our qualifying set-up under it and mashed the gas.

"It wasn't a real pretty lap, but it was the quickest lap and all we needed."

Coming into the second-to-last race of the season, Crawford trails leader Mike Bliss by 68 points.

"That No. 16 (Bliss) truck is just going to have to be late," Crawford said with a smile. "If he's late, I'm going to capitalize on him. It sure helps to be on the pole. Maybe that will shake him up a little bit."

CHEVY SILVERADO 150  •  Lineup  •  Happy Hour Speeds  •  Race Facts  •  Entry List  •  1st Practice Speeds  •  Bud Qualifying Order  •  2nd Practice Speeds

Lester's lap of 128.324 mph (28.054 sec) looked like it was going to hold up before Crawford took his turn. Lester seemed nervous watching the rest of the field qualify after he made his run.

"The lap was one of those that you can definitely say there was nothing left on the table," a disappointed Lester said. "I did everything I could to extract everything I could out of the truck.

"But yeah, I was waiting it out. I couldn't even look at the scoreboard or the scoring monitor, either. I don't know we got taken until the last spot. I congratulate Crawford for doing what he did.

Winston Cup Series regular Kevin Harvick put his No. 6 Chevy in the third spot. Rounding out the top 10 behind him for the starting grid will be Terry Cook, Bliss, Stacy Compton, Jason Leffler, David Starr, Matt Crafton and Robert Pressley.

Jerry Hill, Blake Mallory, Phil Bonifield and Eric Jones took provisionals.

Failing to make the race were Clay Collier, Lonnie Cox, Ricky Sanders, Loni Richardson, John Mickel and Bobby Hillis Jr.