Stewart blazes to first Bud Pole of the year

SONOMA, Calif. -- Tony Stewart spoiled Roush Racing's bid for an all-Roush front row when he grabbed the Bud Pole for the Dodge/Save Mart 350 at Sears Point Raceway on Friday.

Tony Stewart won his first Bud Pole since the year 2000. Credit: Autostock

Stewart's No. 20 Home Depot Pontiac knocked Kurt Busch off the pole midway through the qualifying session. Busch's lap of 93.184 mph was good for second at the hilly two-mile road course. Jeff Burton was third at 93.166 mph.

Stewart, the defending champion in this event, took his fifth career pole and his first at a road course. It was also his first pole since the fall event at Martinsville in 2000.

Stewart says starting up front is a huge advantage at Sears Point, which has become tougher to pass on after two reconfigurations in recent years.

"Having the track position early, it gives the drivers more luxury where they don't have to abuse their brakes and tires," Stewart said. "When the end of the day comes, you have something to work with."

"I am so tired of 1.5-mile ovals," Stewart said. "To come somewhere where you have to turn right is really nice."

Busch, who was third-quickest in the first practice, needed a provisional to start this race last year as a rookie. Roush Racing tested extensively at Sears Point to prepare for this event, and Busch said it paid off.

"That gave us some track time," Busch said. "We knew they were changing the front straightaway and repaving a couple of corners. Testing here is vital."Road racing specialists Boris Said and Ron Fellows qualified 10th and 19th, respectively.

"It was not a good lap for us," Fellows said. "It was very, very slippery. We were sliding around, spending way too much time looking out the side window."

Dale Jarrett lost an engine in practice and elected not to take a qualifying lap and took the first provisional spot (37th) to get in the field. Ricky Craven crashed in practice and couldn't get his backup up to speed in qualifying -- he will start 40th.

Elliott Sadler spun during qualifying and also had to take a provisional 41st spot.

"It was just a stupid mistake," Sadler said. "I went too hard through the corner and got loose getting in. we will have to start in the back, but we'll fight through it."

Points leader Sterling Marlin also spun but managed to qualify 36th -- the last driver on speed.

"We are lucky we ended up 36th," Marlin said. I got off the dirt and ran off the course coming down the hill."

Part-time Craftsman Truck Series driver Jim Inglebright and Winston West regular Austin Cameron both made the field -- Cameron was 23nd, and Inglebright was 34th.

Stacy Compton was 42nd on the speed chart and failed to qualify for his first event since the Bristol fall race in 2001. Brandon Ash, another Winston West regular, also failed to qualify.