Labonte Takes Southern 500 Pole

Bobby Labonte put at least a temporary halt to hype of Jeff Gordon’s bid for the Winston Million bonus by winning his second pole of the season in qualifying for the Southern 500 in Darlington, S.C.

Gordon was seventh.

Labonte had a fast lap of 170.661. It was the ninth pole of the 33-year-old Texan’s career. Spokane’s Chad Little failed to qualify.

Mark Martin took his second consecutive Dura Lube 200 pole with a lap of 163.745 mph in qualifying in Darlington, S.C. Martin knocked fellow Winston Cup driver Bobby Labonte from the front.