LOUDON, N.H. – Michael Waltrip and the NAPA Racing team battled a loose-handling Toyota Camry during Friday’s Bud Pole qualifying session at New Hampshire International Speedway. Waltrip’s lap was good for 43rd quickest (30.194 seconds/126.144 miles per hour), but due to NASCAR’s top-35 qualifying rule, Sterling Marlin and Ricky Rudd bumped Waltrip from a starting spot.

“Michael said the car would not respond at all on the first lap,” said Buddy Sisco, crew chief of the No. 55 NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota Camry. “Then on the second lap, he was loose on one end and OK on the other. We felt like we had a decent shot to make it today, but unfortunately, it was not meant to be.”

David Reutimann from Michael Waltrip Racing will compete in Sunday’s Lenox Industrial Tools 300 after recording the 17th-fastest lap with a time of 27.765 seconds (127.962 miles per hour.) Teammate Dale Jarrett recorded the 47th-quickest time (30.265 seconds/125.848 mph) and did not make the race.

Scoring Toyota’s first Bud Pole award in NASCAR NEXTEL Cup competition was Dave Blaney. He backed up his impressive practice run with a qualifying lap of 29.237 seconds (129.437 miles per hour.) The performance marks the second time in his Cup career that Blaney will lead the 43-car field to the green flag. Besides Reutimann, Jeremy Mayfield will join Blaney in the Toyota contingent after qualifying 30th.

Live coverage of the Lenox Industrial Tools 300 at New Hampshire International Speedway begins Sunday, July 1 at 1:45 p.m. EDT on TNT. It can also be heard on your local MRN Radio affiliate at the same time.

Next Up:
Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway on July 7
2006 Winner: Tony Stewart
2006 Pole Winner: Boris Said
Television: TNT at 6:30 p.m. EDT
Radio: MRN

Lenox Industrial Tools 300 Qualifying Results:
http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2007/17/data/lineup.html

*** The No. 83 car’s time was disallowed after failing post-qualifying inspection.

Practice 1 Results:
http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2007/17/data/practice1_speeds.html