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Lepage rolls to Bud Pole at Dover
By Tim Packman, Turner Sports Interactive September 20, 2002
3:22 PM EDT (1922 GMT)
DOVER, Del. -- Kevin Lepage has a knack for qualifying at Dover International Speedway.
Lepage, driver of the No. 37 Timber Wolf Chevrolet, rolled around the one-mile concrete oval at 155.757 mph to nail down the Bud Pole Award for Saturday's MBNA All-American 200. It was his second pole of the year and fourth of his career.
Kevin Lepage earned his second Bud Pole of the year. Credit: Autostock
Of those four career poles, two have come at Dover, the last in 1998.
"We came here to sit on the pole," Lepage said. "We did all qualifying runs today in practice and it paid off. We ran up front with this car at Pikes Peak leading half the race.
"Dover has been good to me in the past, and it's been bad to me in the past. Hopefully, we can have a good run. I just like Dover -- I like going fast."
Tony Raines will start alongside Lepage after turning a lap of 155.514 mph. The second row included defending race winner Jeff Green and rookie Brian Vickers.
Raines is still without a Busch Series victory, but with the way the car was running right off the truck, he feels Dover could be the place he gets that elusive checkered flag.
MBNA All-American Heroes 200
• Lineup
"The car has been good out of the trailer and the crew did an awesome job of preparing it," Raines said. "We made a few adjustments and it was about what he ran in practice (ninth) so we have a pretty good car.
"It's hard to pass here, so starting up front is worth the effort. The car is driving good, I think you could put this one in the middle of the field and could come up through there. But, then again, you take the chance of wrecking.
"If we can survive the first few laps and get settled in there who knows, we just might pull one off."
For Vickers, his best qualifying effor the year came as a result of a little more experience mixed with some changes on the team.
"We've got a new crew in Bryant Frazier and that's been a big help," Vickers said. "What we had was good and I thank them for getting me to where I am today. It's just a chemistry thing and what we have now is superb.
"Not making the race in Richmond a few weeks ago just sucked. After today, my confidence has gotten a lot better."
Jason Keller, the 2000 winner, Mike McLaughlin, Ron Hornaday, point leader Greg Biffle, Jimmy Spencer and Bobby Hamilton Jr. round out the top 10 starters.
Lepage rolls to Bud Pole at Dover
By Tim Packman, Turner Sports Interactive September 20, 2002
3:22 PM EDT (1922 GMT)
DOVER, Del. -- Kevin Lepage has a knack for qualifying at Dover International Speedway.
Lepage, driver of the No. 37 Timber Wolf Chevrolet, rolled around the one-mile concrete oval at 155.757 mph to nail down the Bud Pole Award for Saturday's MBNA All-American 200. It was his second pole of the year and fourth of his career.
Kevin Lepage earned his second Bud Pole of the year. Credit: Autostock
Of those four career poles, two have come at Dover, the last in 1998.
"We came here to sit on the pole," Lepage said. "We did all qualifying runs today in practice and it paid off. We ran up front with this car at Pikes Peak leading half the race.
"Dover has been good to me in the past, and it's been bad to me in the past. Hopefully, we can have a good run. I just like Dover -- I like going fast."
Tony Raines will start alongside Lepage after turning a lap of 155.514 mph. The second row included defending race winner Jeff Green and rookie Brian Vickers.
Raines is still without a Busch Series victory, but with the way the car was running right off the truck, he feels Dover could be the place he gets that elusive checkered flag.
MBNA All-American Heroes 200
• Lineup
"The car has been good out of the trailer and the crew did an awesome job of preparing it," Raines said. "We made a few adjustments and it was about what he ran in practice (ninth) so we have a pretty good car.
"It's hard to pass here, so starting up front is worth the effort. The car is driving good, I think you could put this one in the middle of the field and could come up through there. But, then again, you take the chance of wrecking.
"If we can survive the first few laps and get settled in there who knows, we just might pull one off."
For Vickers, his best qualifying effor the year came as a result of a little more experience mixed with some changes on the team.
"We've got a new crew in Bryant Frazier and that's been a big help," Vickers said. "What we had was good and I thank them for getting me to where I am today. It's just a chemistry thing and what we have now is superb.
"Not making the race in Richmond a few weeks ago just sucked. After today, my confidence has gotten a lot better."
Jason Keller, the 2000 winner, Mike McLaughlin, Ron Hornaday, point leader Greg Biffle, Jimmy Spencer and Bobby Hamilton Jr. round out the top 10 starters.