Reuitmann on Bud Pole, but Biffle will drive

MILLINGTON, Tenn. (AP) -- Greg Biffle's helicopter would have to break down to allow substitute driver David Reutimann to take advantage of his first Busch Series pole.

	David Reutimann

Reutimann qualified first Friday in the No. 7 Chevrolet with a lap of 119.766 mph for the Sam's Town 250 at Memphis Motorsports Park. Under NASCAR rules, Biffle will have to start in last place because he wasn't the driver who qualified the car.

Biffle missed qualifying here because he was in Martinsville, Va., qualifying for the Winston Cup race. He was scheduled to run in the Busch race and then go back to Virginia for the Subway 500 on Sunday.

Because of the technicality, second-place qualifier, 18-year-old Kyle Busch, who is racing in his fifth Busch race, will start from the pole.

He will be next to Brian Vickers and followed by Bobby Hamilton Jr. and Ron Hornaday Jr. on the second row.

Reutimann, who works as a fabricator at Joe Nemechek's shop NEMCO Motorsports, hopes his qualifying performance will earn him a full-time ride next season.

Sam's Town 250  Happy Hour Speeds  1st Practice Speeds  Lineup

"That was never the intention," Reutimann said about winning the pole. "It's not the way you'd really like to do things."

One problem with substitute drivers is that Biffle might drive differently than Reutimann. In addition, qualifying was held under overcast and cool conditions with sun and warmer temperatures forecast for Saturday, which changes the feel of the track.

"If he runs good tomorrow, I'll take all the credit," Reutimann said. "If not, I'll leave early."

Biffle won last week's rain-delayed Busch race by nearly 13 seconds at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

	Brian Vickers

With five races left in the season, the Busch series championship remains up for grabs. This race could make the picture clearer.

Vickers, second in the standings 36 points behind leader David Green, put himself in good position to move up.

"It helps, but it's not over yet," Vickers said of his qualifying in third. "I'm not going to say it's an advantage until the race is over."

Scott Riggs, third in the standings, qualified 14th. Hornaday, behind Riggs in the standings, will start Saturday's race beside Jason Keller, fifth in the standings.

Green will start in eighth, attempting to cushion his points lead.

The 80 points separating Green from Keller is the closest margin between first and fifth place with five races to go in Busch Series history.

Busch, the youngest driver in the field, is trying to get some more experience before he races in two more series races this season. He is expected to become full-time next year under Hendrick Motorsports.