Nate Mecha/High Sierra Photo

Hamilton edges Bodine to claim Martinsville pole

MARTINSVILLE, Va. -- Bobby Hamilton, with his first Bud Pole in more than a year, will lead the field to the green flag in Saturday's NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Kroger 250 at Martinsville Speedway.

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Hamilton, driving the Bailey's Dodge, shattered Mike Bliss' six-year-old qualifying record with a fast lap of 95.098 mph around the .525-mile, semi-banked oval. Friday's top 10 qualifiers all bettered Bliss's 1999 mark of 94.275.

Hamilton's last pole came at the conclusion of the 2003 season when he won the finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Friday's pole was his fifth on the series and second at Martinsville. Hamilton's first pole in 1996 came in his first appearance. He won the 2001 Kroger 250.

Todd Bodine claimed the other front row starting position in his Toyota at 95.089. Bodine was among the final qualifiers to make a run at Hamilton. Jack Sprague, last year's Kroger 250 pole winner, qualified third in a Chevrolet with Ricky Craven fourth in a Ford. Bobby Labonte took the fifth position in the 36-truck field in a Chevrolet.

Brandon Whitt, Mike Skinner, Robert Huffman, Dennis Setzer and Shane Hmiel completed the top 10.