 | | Kasey Kahne will start from the pole for the second consecutive week. Credit: Autostock |
By David Newton, NASCAR.COM
May 19, 2006
10:25 PM EDT (02:25 GMT)
CONCORD, N.C. -- Elliott Sadler was depressed enough that he wasn't guaranteed a spot in the Nextel All-Star Challenge for the first time in six years. Then he crashed in Turn 2 of his qualifying lap for the Nextel Open, meaning he'll have to win Saturday night's preliminary race at Lowe's Motor Speedway in a backup car that hasn't been on the track if he hopes to make the main event. That or win the fan vote that decides the 20th and final spot for the race. If neither happens, it will be the first time since 2000 that Sadler hasn't competed for the million dollar prize. He's been in the top 10 the last two years, finishing second to Mark Martin a year ago. Sadler was so disappointed after surveying the damage to his Ford Fusion that he left the garage without talking to reporters waiting behind his hauler. "It's disappointing that we are not qualified for the all-star race, because it's a fun race not just for the fans, but for the drivers as well," Sadler said earlier in the week. Sadler, who will start last in the 30-lap preliminary after failing to post a speed, didn't make the all-star race because he hasn't won a points event since September 2004. He is 15th in points and in danger of not making the Chase for the second consecutive season. He talked briefly of his struggles and the struggles of Robert Yates Racing, which will lose Dale Jarrett to Michael Waltrip's Toyota team next season, with a television reporter outside the track hospital. "But we'll get it fixed," he said. Jarrett, who qualified 12th among the 18 drivers guaranteed a spot in the all-star race, senses his teammates' frustration. "Neither one of us has run like we want to run," said Jarrett, who is 12th in points. "We'd like for things to be progressing more than they are. We don't have these cars driving so we can be aggressive with them." Jarrett got too aggressive in practice and spun out in about the same spot as Sadler. "It's a tough match -- the surface and the tire" Jarrett said. "If you don't have everything exactly right it gets away from you in a hurry." On the other end of the emotional spectrum was Kasey Kahne, who won the pole for the main event with a combined lap and pit stop of 132.465 mph. It was the fourth pole of the season for the third-year Cup driver and second consecutive after winning last week's pole at Darlington. Kahne edged 2003 all-star winner Jimmie Johnson, who had a combined speed and pit stop of 131.774 mph. Unlike many of the cars that struggled to maintain grip with the hard tires Goodyear designed to complement the new surface at LMS, Kahne had no problems. "Our car handled good all day," said Kahne, who also was fastest in practice. Evernham Motorsports actually won two poles. Kahne's teammate Scott Riggs, will start first in the Open. Riggs also struggled in practice, almost wrecking twice with a qualifying setup. He said the grip was much better at night. "Being on the pole, I feel pretty good about it," he said. "If I was on the outside pole or further back, I don't know how I would feel." All he has to do is ask Sadler. | 
