Bessey Takes Pole

Joe Bessey, who has never finished in the top five in 80 NASCAR Busch Series qualifying attempts, won his first-ever pole for today’s Gateway 300 in Madison, Ill.

A three-member NASCAR panel in Charlotte, N.C., has denied an appeal by Tony Furr, crew chief for Pepsi 400 winner John Andretti, and upheld the $50,000 fine levied against him when inspectors found an illegal carburetor mounting before that race.

Carrie Neal, 25, of Poway, Calif., died when her sportsman-class dragster crashed during qualifying for the Autolite Nationals at Sears Point Raceway in Sonoma, Calif.

She was attempting to qualify for the Federal-Mogul Dragster field for Sunday’s eliminations for the NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series event.