Bristol Yields First Pole for Team Rock

Qualifying has ended for the Food City 250 NASCAR Busch Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway with the No. 21 Rockwell Automation Racing Team sitting atop the pole board for the first time. Winston Cup regular Mike Skinner, fresh off his first weekend back in the red and white racing machine, took advantage of a two-hour afternoon practice and a hard working Team Rock to get the car in tip-top shape for the two-lap run.

His qualifying time of 15.417-seconds on his first lap put the No. 21 RCR Chevy in prime position to start tomorrow night's race and helped Skinner claim his third pole in 40 Busch events.

"We came a long way since the start of the day," stated Skinner, who's last Busch Bud Pole Award came at the fall Dover race last year. "Our car was awfully loose when we got here and I was pretty careful with it. We struggled a little bit, and the 2 and 21 wasn't anywhere near the top of the charts. My hat is off to crew chiefs Gil Martin (21) and Todd Barrier (2). They put their heads together and came up with a pretty good package to get me in the top-three by the end of practice.

"I just got an awfully good lap coming to the flag and I knew my first lap was pretty good so I really gambled on the second lap. I overdrove it and ended up at the top of the racetrack in (turns) three and four. But that's Bristol - it's a controlled wreck. This place is hard on the body and makes qualifying a stressful deal. We were fortunate, had a good lap and I just hope I can do it over and over again tomorrow."

This is both Skinner and Team Rock's best start in a Busch event at the track nicknamed "the world's fastest half-mile." Friday night's race in Bristol, TN is set to start at 8:00 PM ET on TNT. If you can't find a TV, check your local PRN affiliate beginning at 7:30 PM ET.