Wonderful Pistachios 400 Qualifying Report
STEWART-HAAS RACING
Wonderful Pistachios 400 Qualifying Report
Date: Sept. 9, 2011
Event: Wonderful Pistachios 400 Qualifying (Round 26 of 36)
Series: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Location: Richmond (Va.) International Raceway (.75-mile oval)
Pole Winner: David Reutimann of Michael Waltrip Racing (21.196 seconds at 127.383 mph)
SHR Lineup: Ryan Newman (18th, 21.366 seconds at 126.369 mph)
Tony Stewart (22nd, 21.393 seconds at 126.210 mph)
Ryan Newman, driver of the No. 39 U.S. Army Chevrolet Impala, led the two-car Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) contingent in time trials at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway by qualifying 18th for Saturday night’s Wonderful Pistachios 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. Newman turned a lap of 21.366 seconds at 126.369 mph on the .75-mile oval.
“I’ve always said it’s an honor to represent the Soldiers and an honor to represent the people who give us this free country so that we’re able to come out and play,” said Newman, who won at Richmond in September 2003. “We’ll do our best for them tomorrow night.”
Newman’s time was identical to that of four-time Sprint Cup champion Jeff Gordon, but Gordon was awarded the 17th starting position because he is higher in points (fifth) than Newman (eighth).
Tony Stewart, driver of the No. 14 Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet Impala for SHR, will start 22nd after turning a lap of 21.393 seconds at 126.210 mph.
“I think we’ve got a car that runs well,” said Stewart, who won at Richmond in September 1999, May 2001 and May 2002. “It seems like after about 10 laps our car is as good as anybody else’s, and maybe a tick better after 20 laps on. Hopefully, we’ll get a lot of long, green-flag runs tomorrow night.”
David Reutimann captured his fourth career Sprint Cup pole, his first of the season and his first at Richmond by posting a lap of 21.196 seconds at 127.383 mph.
Jamie McMurray will start on the outside of row one as he timed in at 21.204 seconds at 127.334 mph. Jimmie Johnson was third (21.224 seconds at 127.214 mph), while Mark Martin (21.246 seconds at 127.083 mph) and Clint Bowyer (21.258 seconds at 127.011 mph) rounded out the top-five.
Forty-six drivers attempted to qualify for the Wonderful Pistachios 400. Those not making the cut in the 43-car field were Mike Skinner, Erik Darnell and T.J. Bell.
As far as manufacturers went, Toyota took the top spot via Reutimann’s pole run. Chevrolet was next best at the hands of McMurray. Ford was the third-fastest make thanks to eighth-quick Carl Edwards (21.309 seconds at 126.707 mph), while 11th-quick Kurt Busch (21.316 seconds at 126.665 mph) carried the flag for Dodge.
The Wonderful Pistachios 400 gets underway at 7:30 p.m. EDT on Saturday with live coverage provided by ABC beginning with its pre-race show at 7 p.m.
-SHR-
