Labonte Takes Miller 500 Pole

For the second time in a row, Bobby Labonte beat Jeff Gordon in qualifying at Dover Downs International Speedway in Dover, Del., turning a fast mile in his Pontiac at 152.788 mph. Gordon, looking to make history by winning his fourth straight race at the Monster Mile, will start his Chevrolet second Sunday in the Miller 500 after a lap of 151.841. So slick was the high-banked concrete surface that neither driver came close to Labonte’s Dover qualifying standard of 155.086, set last September for the MBNA 500. Nor did they approach Gordon’s 154.785 event qualifying record of a year ago.

Chad Little of Spokane qualified 16th at 150.269.

Earlier, Dick Trickle beat Labonte for the pole of today’s GM Goodwrench 200.