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Mark Martin on the Pole at Darlington

21 March 1998

By Terry Callahan The Auto Channel

DARLINGTON, SC: Mark Martin has placed Ford on the pole for the NASCAR Winston Cup race at Darlington this weekend. Martin, driving a Ford Taurus, grabbed the pole with a speed of 168.665 mph. Martin's Roush Racing teammate, Jeff Burton, was second quick with a speed of 168.284 mph. Dale Jarrett, in another Ford, qualified third.

NASCAR made a rules change earlier this week that took away more rear wing from the Ford teams. The rules may need more work as the majority of Chevrolets qualified in the middle or back of the pack. Sterling Marlin was the highest qualifying Chevy in eighth.

The complete starting order follows with starting position, (car number), driver, hometown, car make, and speed:

1. (6) Mark Martin, Batesville, Ark., Ford, 168.665.
2. (99) Jeff Burton, South Boston, Va., Ford, 168.284.
3. (88) Dale Jarrett, Hickory, N.C., Ford, 168.186.
4. (90) Dick Trickle, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., Ford, 168.163.
5. (28) Kenny Irwin, Indianapolis, Ford, 168.140.
6. (18) Bobby Labonte, Corpus Christi, Texas, Pontiac, 168.129.
7. (21) Michael Waltrip, Owensboro, Ky., Ford, 168.129.
8. (40) Sterling Marlin, Columbia, Tenn., Chevrolet, 168.071.
9. (22) Ward Burton, South Boston, Va., Pontiac, 167.853.
10. (91) Kevin LePage, Shelbourne, Vt., Chevrolet, 167.710.
11. (7) Geoff Bodine, Chemung, N.Y., Ford, 167.670.
12. (98) Greg Sacks, Mattituck, N.Y., Ford, 167.493.
13. (96) David Green, Owensboro, Ky., Chevrolet, 167.379.
14. (2) Rusty Wallace, St. Louis, Ford, 167.362.
15. (75) Rick Mast, Rockbridge Baths, Va., Ford, 167.299.
16. (43) John Andretti, Indianapolis, Pontiac, 167.288.
17. (77) Robert Pressley, Asheville, N.C., Ford, 167.214.
18. (10) Ricky Rudd, Chesapeake, Va., Ford, 167.208.
19. (31) Mike Skinner, Susanville, Calif., Chevrolet, 167.135.
20. (16) Ted Musgrave, Franklin, Wis., Ford, 167.118.
21. (26) Johnny Benson, Grand Rapids, Mich., Ford, 166.981.
22. (11) Brett Bodine, Chemung, N.Y., Ford, 166.947.
23. (50) Randy LaJoie, Norwalk, Conn., Chevrolet, 166.811.
24. (24) Jeff Gordon, Pittsboro, Ind., Chevrolet, 166.738.
25. (13) Jerry Nadeau, Danbury, Conn., Ford, 166.687.
26. (81) Kenny Wallace, St. Louis, Ford, 168.301.
27. (3) Dale Earnhardt, Kannapolis, N.C., Chevrolet, 167.231.
28. (42) Joe Nemechek, Lakeland, Fla., Chevrolet, 167.129.
29. (97) Chad Little, Spokane, Wash., Ford, 166.930.
30. (94) Bill Elliott, Dawsonville, Ga., Ford, 166.687.
31. (30) Derrike Cope, Spanaway, Wash., Pontiac, 166.676.
32. (33) Ken Schrader, Fenton, Mo., Chevrolet, 166.670.
33. (5) Terry Labonte, Corpus Christi, Texas, Chevrolet, 166.653.
34.. (9) Lake Speed, Jackson, Miss., Ford, 166.647.
35. (23) Jimmy Spencer, Berwick, Pa., Ford, 166.619.
36. (41) Steve Grissom, Gadsden, Ala., Chevrolet, 166.264.
37. (12) Jeremy Mayfield, Owensboro, Ky., Ford, provisional.
38. (4) Bobby Hamilton, Nashville, Tenn., Chevrolet, provisional.
39. (36) Ernie Irvan, Salinas, Calif., Pontiac, provisional.
40. (44) Kyle Petty, Randleman, N.C., Pontiac, provisional.
41. (35) Todd Bodine, Chemung, N.Y., Pontiac, provisional.
42. (29) Jeff Green, Owensboro, Ky., Chevrolet, provisional.
43. (17) Darrell Waltrip, Owensboro, Ky., Chevrolet, provisional.