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NASCAR: Bobby Labonte Fastest at Talladega

24 April 1998

By Terry Callahan
The Auto Channel

TALLADEGA, AL: Bobby Labonte has captured the pole for the NASCAR race in Talladega, Alabama this weekend. Labonte, driving a Pontiac, edged Dale Earnhardt out of the top spot for Sunday's race. Labonte had a qualifying speed of 195.728 mph. Earnhardt qualified with a speed of 195.194 mph.

Only the top 25 qualifying speeds are locked in for the race. Drivers who were not in the top 25 may elect to "stand" on their speed or requalify during Saturday's session.

Following are the qualifying results with qualifying position, (car number), driver, hometown, car make, and qualifying speed:

1. (18) Bobby Labonte, Corpus Christi, Texas, Pontiac, 195.728.
2. (3) Dale Earnhardt, Kannapolis, N.C., Chevrolet, 195.194.
3. (5) Terry Labonte, Corpus Christi, Texas, Chevrolet, 194.452.
4. (33) Ken Schrader, Fenton, Mo., Chevrolet, 194.401.
5. (31) Morgan Shepherd, Conover, N.C., Chevrolet, 194.121.
6. (24) Jeff Gordon, Pittsboro, Ind., Chevrolet, 193.830.
7. (30) Derrike Cope, Spanaway, Wash., Pontiac, 193.729.
8. (9) Lake Speed, Jackson, Miss., Ford, 193.623.
9. (88) Dale Jarrett, Hickory, N.C., Ford, 193.486.
10. (50) Randy LaJoie, Norwalk, Conn., Chevrolet, 193.103.
11. (42) Joe Nemechek, Lakeland, Fla., Chevrolet, 193.010.
12. (13) Jerry Nadeau, Danbury, Conn., Ford, 192.979.
13. (10) Ricky Rudd, Chesapeake, Va., Ford, 192.905.
14. (40) Sterling Marlin, Columbia, Tenn., Chevrolet, 192.723.
15. (43) John Andretti, Indianapolis, Pontiac, 192.417.
16. (90) Dick Trickle, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., Ford, 192.398.
17. (94) Bill Elliott, Dawsonville, Ga., Ford, 192.363.
18. (99) Jeff Burton, South Boston, Va., Ford, 192.231.
19. (36) Ernie Irvan, Salinas, Calif., Pontiac, 192.216.
20. (22) Ward Burton, South Boston, Va., Pontiac, 191.792.
21. (46) Wally Dallenbach Jr., Basalt, Colo., Chevrolet, 191.727.
22. (23) Jimmy Spencer, Berwick, Pa., Ford, 191.708.
23. (2) Rusty Wallace, St. Louis, Ford, 191.673.
24. (1) Darrell Waltrip, Owensboro, Ky., Chevrolet, 191.604.
25. (28) Kenny Irwin, Indianapolis, Ford, 191.577.

The following drivers failed to qualify on Friday:

26. (4) Bobby Hamilton, Nashville, Tenn., Chevrolet, 191.558.
27. (44) Kyle Petty, Randleman, N.C., Pontiac, 191.398.
28. (21) Michael Waltrip, Owensboro, Ky., Ford, 191.325.
29. (97) Chad Little, Spokane, Wash., Ford, 191.218.
30. (81) Kenny Wallace, St. Louis, Ford, 191.172.
31. (75) Rick Mast, Rockbridge Baths, Va., Ford, 191.103.
32. (47) Billy Standridge, Shelby, N.C., Ford, 191.039.
33. (96) David Green, Owensboro, Ky., Chevrolet, 191.004.
34. (77) Robert Pressley, Asheboro, N.C., Ford, 190.776.
35. (16) Ted Musgrave, Franklin, Wis., Ford, 190.692.
36. (91) Kevin LePage, Shelbourne, Vt., Chevrolet, 190.670.
37. (8) Hut Stricklin, Calera, Ala., Ford, 190.567.
38. (35) Todd Bodine, Chemung, N.Y., Pontiac, 190.537.
39. (41) Steve Grissom, Gadsden, Ala., Chevrolet, 190.465.
40. (29) Jeff Green, Owensboro, Ky., Chevrolet, 190.363.
41. (89) Dennis Setzer, Newton, N.C., Ford, 190.068.
42. (11) Brett Bodine, Chemung, N.Y., Ford, 190.060.
43. (12) Jeremy Mayfield, Owensboro, Ky., Ford, 189.932.
44. (6) Mark Martin, Batesville, Ark., Ford, 189.740.
45. (71) Dave Marcis, Wausau, Wis., Chevrolet, 189.537.
46. (26) Johnny Benson, Grand Rapids, Mich., Ford, 189.361.
47. (7) Geoff Bodine, Chemung, N.Y., Ford, 188.356.
48. (07) Dan Pardus, Ormond Beach, Fla., Chevrolet, 188.163.
49. (98) Rich Bickle, Edgerton, Wis., Ford, 187.857.
50. (60) Matt Kenseth, Cambridge, Wis., Ford, 187.324.
51. (78) Gary Bradberry, Chelsea, Ala., Ford, 187.177.