Tony Stewart was the only driver to eclipse the 98 mph mark around the short Martinsville track. Credit: CIA Stock Photo

Stewart tops among record-setting qualifiers

MARTINSVILLE, Va. -- Tony Stewart was the fastest among 11 drivers who broke the track qualifying record for Martinsville Speedway, turning a lap at 98.083 mph under an overcast sky Friday to win the pole position for Sunday's Subway 500.

Stewart's lap easily eclipsed the mark of 97.043 mph set by Ryan Newman in this race a year ago, and eased Virginia native Ricky Rudd to the outside of the first row.

Qualifying Results Pos. Driver Speed Time 1. T. Stewart 98.084 19.306 2. R. Rudd 97.992 19.324 3. R. Wallace 97.931 19.336 4. R. Newman 97.911 19.340 5. D. Hamlin 97.835 19.355 Complete Lineup: click here Bud Pole winnerTony Stewart snags the pole at Martinsville in record time Good startJimmie Johnson has a strong qualifying run in Martinsville Last callRusty Wallace will start his final race at Martinsville up front Sign up for TrackPass now BUY YOUR NEXTEL DRIVER PHONE

Stewart took a cue from Rudd when he qualified faster than he practiced.

"We almost picked up the same amount of time that he did," he said.

Stewart also gained what he hopes will be an advantage by spending the first hour of practice working on his race setup. He said the decision was prompted by questions about the weather Saturday, when the Nextel Cup drivers have two practice sessions.

Rudd, making what could be his final start at Martinsville, circled the .526-mile track at 97.992 mph.

"It's almost been sort of an uneventful day," Rudd said. "We didn't have to change a whole lot of stuff. The car was ready off the truck."

The pole is the 10th of Stewart's career and third this season. He'll start the race in a tie with Jimmie Johnson atop the standings in the Chase for the Nextel Cup with five races remaining. Johnson will start sixth after a lap at 97.548 mph.

Rusty Wallace, seventh in the points standings, will start third in search of his eighth career victory here. He leads active drivers at Martinsville.

"I think a lot of people look at me as the favorite here," Wallace said. "I kinda feel that when I come into this track. I've got a little extra step in my stride when I come into this track because I've been so successful here in the past."

After Stewart's Chevrolet and Rudd's Ford, the Dodges of Wallace and Ryan Newman are on the second row, followed by the Chevrolets of Denny Hamlin and Johnson.

The rest of the top 10 includes Jeremy Mayfield, Joe Nemechek, Elliott Sadler and Bobby Labonte. Jeff Gordon, who won here in the spring, qualified 15th.