A Quick Look At Sylvania 300 Qualifying

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• Clint Bowyer, who enters the Sylvania 300 in 12th in the standings as the Chase for the NEXTEL Cup begins at New Hampshire International Speedway, claims the pole for Sunday's race with a lap of 130.412 mph, 29.206 seconds on the 1.058-mile track. It is Bowyer's second Bud Pole this year and the second of his career. This is the first time Bowyer has started better than 24th in four races at the “Magic Mile.” Bowyer also was the top qualifying Chevrolet.
  
• The top four qualifiers for Sunday's race are involved in the Chase for the Championship. Martin Truex Jr., who is seventh in the standings, is on the outside front row. His 130.255-mph, 29.241-second lap gave him his third top-10 start in four New Hampshire races.
  
• Kurt Busch, who is tied with Carl Edwards for fourth in the standings, was the top qualifying Dodge. He claimed third with a lap of 130.011 mph, 29.296 seconds. That's just 0.90 second off Bowyer's pole winning speed. He was the 48th of 49 drivers to qualify. It is Busch's eighth top-10 start in 14 New Hampshire races.
  
• Six of the 12 Chase drivers qualified in the top 10. In addition to those already mentioned, Jimmie Johnson was fourth quickest, Tony Stewart sixth and Kevin Harvick eighth.
  
• Other drivers in the Chase and their starting positions are: Carl Edwards, 11th; Kyle Busch, 12th; Denny Hamlin, 14th; Jeff Gordon, 18th; Jeff Burton, 23rd; and Matt Kenseth, 30th.
  
• Dave Blaney, who qualified 10th in his Caterpillar Toyota, was the fastest of the drivers required to make the field on time. His 29.488-second, 129.164-mph lap was also the fastest of the Toyota drivers.
  
• Greg Biffle was the top qualifying Ford. He piloted his Lumber Liquidators Roush-Fenway Ford to the ninth starting position with a lap of 129.226 mph, 29.474 seconds.
• Paul Menard, who was 17th quickest in his Menards/Sylvania Chevrolet, was the top qualifying rookie. His lap of 128.854 mph, 29.559 seconds is 0.353 second off the pole winning pace.
  
• Boris Said qualified 43rd for his New Hampshire debut in the NEXTEL Cup Series. He has competed in two Craftsman Truck Series races at the track. This weekend also marks Said's inaugural run for Gillett Evernham Motorsports in a Dodge Avenger. Said has nine starts in the Busch Series for GEM, collecting two poles, two top-five and seven top-10 finishes for the team.
  
• Three-time Indy Racing League champion Sam Hornish Jr. had his NASCAR NEXTEL Cup debut delayed. Hornish, who was 45th quickest in his Penske Truck Rental Dodge Avenger, said his car was too loose during his qualifying run. Others failing to make the grid were Dale Jarrett, Jeremy Mayfield, Michael Waltrip, John Andretti and Kevin Lepage.

Compiled by Deb Williams