Wallace captures Bud Pole at Dover
By Marty Smith, Turner Sports Interactive September 20, 2002
3:43 PM EDT (1943 GMT)
DOVER, Del. -- Two years ago at Phoenix International Raceway, Rusty Wallace tallied his ninth Bud Pole of the 2000 season. Heading into Dover International Speedway this weekend, he hadn't earned one since.
Wallace on Friday snapped that 65-race pole drought, nabbing his fifth career DIS pole with a lap of 156.822 mph in 22.956 seconds. By doing so, he moved into sole possession of second place in career poles earned at the ultra-quick one-mile oval.
"Finally. It's been forever," Wallace said. "It's been a year seems like since I won a pole. We had a good car today. Goodyear brought a great tire. We're back on the pole here at Dover, feels good. We're real optimistic about Sunday."
Wallace entered the weekend tied with Ricky Rudd, Alan Kulwicki and Mark Martin with four career Dover poles apiece. David Pearson heads the list, with six.
Wallace's quick lap fell more than 3 mph off his record speed set in this event two years ago. Still, it was some .08 seconds quicker quicker than the lap laid down by runner-up Dale Jarrett
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