Big Brother Busch Takes California Pole
Kurt Busch puts Dodge on the California pole
Mark Martin, 38th-fastest on Friday and 10th in the standings, still hopeful
By DAVID POOLE
The Charlotte Observer
FONTANA, Calif. – Mark Martin doesn't even want to think about what it would feel like to be the odd-man out once the field for this year's Chase for the Nextel Cup is set.
"It's everything to me," said Martin, who is 10th in the standings going into Sunday's Sony HD 500 at California Speedway.
"I guess if something happens and we don't make it, then that's that. I'm pretty sure that I'll wake up Sunday after Richmond and still be alive. But I don't want to chance it. ...I'd rather wake up that Sunday and realize we've got a shot at the championship."
Kurt Busch won his second straight pole and his third in four races in Friday's qualifying, running a lap at 185.540 mph to beat Brian Vickers and rookie Clint Bowyer.
Matt Kenseth, who won here in February and who'll start 11th on Sunday, will be going for a third straight Nextel Cup victory, but the main focus this weekend clearly is on the battle for the final spot in the Chase.
Martin, who struggled to only a 38th-best speed in Friday's qualifying, is a big part of that story, of course. His 28th-place finish at Bristol last weekend dropped him to the "bubble" in the Chase standings. He comes into the season's 25th race 90 points ahead of Kasey Kahne with this race and next Saturday night's event at Richmond left before the Chase field is set.
more on California qualifying
Mark Martin, 38th-fastest on Friday and 10th in the standings, still hopeful
By DAVID POOLE
The Charlotte Observer
FONTANA, Calif. – Mark Martin doesn't even want to think about what it would feel like to be the odd-man out once the field for this year's Chase for the Nextel Cup is set.
"It's everything to me," said Martin, who is 10th in the standings going into Sunday's Sony HD 500 at California Speedway.
"I guess if something happens and we don't make it, then that's that. I'm pretty sure that I'll wake up Sunday after Richmond and still be alive. But I don't want to chance it. ...I'd rather wake up that Sunday and realize we've got a shot at the championship."
Kurt Busch won his second straight pole and his third in four races in Friday's qualifying, running a lap at 185.540 mph to beat Brian Vickers and rookie Clint Bowyer.
Matt Kenseth, who won here in February and who'll start 11th on Sunday, will be going for a third straight Nextel Cup victory, but the main focus this weekend clearly is on the battle for the final spot in the Chase.
Martin, who struggled to only a 38th-best speed in Friday's qualifying, is a big part of that story, of course. His 28th-place finish at Bristol last weekend dropped him to the "bubble" in the Chase standings. He comes into the season's 25th race 90 points ahead of Kasey Kahne with this race and next Saturday night's event at Richmond left before the Chase field is set.
more on California qualifying
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