Full Throttle

Kevin Harvick qualified second for Sunday’s UAW-Ford 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. He clocked a speed of 189.032, but was sent to the back of the 43-car field after his Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet failed inspection. Sanctioning body spokesman Jim Hunter said a post-qualifying inspection found “several violations in the trunk area of the car.”

Damn, could’a fooled me, always thought “to much junk in the trunk” referred to a rather large human posterior. You learn sumptin’ new every day! As did Harvick’s crew chief I’m sure and Harvick will get a lesson in how to weave his way through the field without following the “Talladega Lemmings.” He hopes!

Under the heading of misery loves company, series runner-up Rusty Wallace joins Harvick wagging the tail. The #2 Miller Dodge blew an engine before finishing it’s first qualifying lap.

Elliot Sadler staked his claim on the “After Thought Grand Prix” (11^th place in Cup standings) by capturing the pole with a lap of 189.260 mph. It is his fifth career pole and third of the season, but his first since Kevin Buskirk became his crew chief in a shake-up two weeks ago that also included teammate Dale Jarrett.

Of those chasing the Chase Ryan Newman had the top speed and will start forth, Tony Stewart follows in fifth.

The rest are scattered like dandelion seeds in the wind with Greg Biffle eighth, series leader Jimmie Johnson ninth, Carl Edwards 10^th, Matt Kenseth 11^th, Kurt Busch 21^st, Mark Martin 24^th and Jeremy Mayfield 32^nd.

If that doesn’t make for an interesting first 50 laps, nothing will.

NEXTEL Cup, Auto Racing, Sports, Talladega