Labonte Sits On Pole Again

Terry Labonte has led 311 of the 900 miles run on the Winston Cup circuit this season, but he has nothing to show for it.

In Sunday’s $1.2 million Pontiac Excitement 400 at Richmond, Va., he hopes to begin changing that.

Labonte turned a fast lap of 123.728 mph on the three-quarter-mile oval of Richmond International Raceway to gain a second straight pole, bumping struggling Winston Cup defending champion Jeff Gordon to the No. 2 starting spot on the front row.

Also at Richmond, Jeff Purvis earned his second pole position in three Busch Grand National races, qualifying first for today’s Hardee’s Fried Chicken Challenge 250.

Purvis, driving full-time for the first time this season, turned a fast lap of 121.114 mph late in first-round qualifying for today’s race.

Spokane native Chad Little qualified 13th in his Pontiac at 119.745.