Bliss Blasts LMS Record
Written by John Davison · May 20, 2005
Mike Bliss grabbed the gold with his qualifying run for the NASCAR NEXTEL Open tonight, setting a new track record and earning the pole for the race. Bliss drove around the 1.5 mile tri-oval in a lap of 28.540 sec/189.208 mph, besting the old track record of 29.180 sec/185.058 mph by over six tenths of a second. “We weren’t that good in practice,” said Bliss. “The race track changed quite a bit, in our favor I guess. That’s the biggest key I feel, starting close to the front.”
Scott Riggs got loose in Turn One, dropped his left side tires low in Turn Two and spun onto the back straight, just tapping the inside wall. The spin came on Riggs’ first qualifying lap in the No. 10 Chevy, dropping him to the back of the field on the start.
Brian Vickers had the car get loose approaching the green flag to start his qualifying run but still managed a second-fastest lap at the time, slotting in just .034 sec behind Casey Mears’ time.
Kyle Busch, just a couple of cars later, nearly set a new track record with a lap of 28.617 sec/188.699 mph. Kyle Petty, next car out, ran only one lap before parking his No. 45 Dodge with a lap of 29.247 sec/184.634 mph.
Jason Leffler let his car run wide in Turn Two, flattening the right side of the car against the wall and sending the team to a backup car for the Nextel Open. Leffler was checked and released at the infield medical center.
Qualifying results, NASCAR NEXTEL Open
Pos, Driver, Car, Time, Speed
1) Mike Bliss, No. 0 Net Zero/Best Buy Chevrolet, 28.540, 189.208
2) Kyle Busch #, No. 5 Kellogg’s Chevrolet, 28.617, 188.699
3) Casey Mears, No. 41 Target Dodge, 28.639, 188.554
4) Travis Kvapil #, No. 77 Kodak/Jasper Eng. & Trans. Dodge, 28.663, 188.396
5) Brian Vickers, No. 25 GMAC/ditech.com Chevrolet, 28.797, 187.520
6) Ken Schrader, No. 49 Red Barron Pizza Dodge, 28.833, 187.285
7) Kevin Lepage, No. 37 Underdog Dodge, 28.856, 187.136
8) Martin Truex Jr., No. 1 Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Chevrolet, 28.870, 187.045
9) Ricky Rudd, No. 21 Motorcraft Genuine Parts Ford, 28.882, 186.968
10) Jimmy Spencer, No. 50 Arnold Development Co. Dodge, 28.882, 186.968
11) Bobby Hamilton Jr., No. 32 Tide Chevrolet, 28.891, 186.909
12) Robby Gordon, No. 7 Fruit of the Loom Chevrolet, 28.932, 186.645
13) Sterling Marlin, No. 40 Coors Light Dodge, 28.942, 186.580
14) Jeff Green, No. 43 Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge, 29.018, 186.091
15) Scott Wimmer, No. 22 Caterpillar Dodge, 29.109, 185.510
16) Jeff Burton, No. 31 Cingular Wireless Chevrolet, 29.208, 184.881
17) Jamie McMurray, No. 42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge, 29.218, 184.818
18) Kyle Petty, No. 45 Georgia-Pacific/Brawny Dodge, 29.247, 184.634
19) Dave Blaney, No. 07 Jack Daniel’s Country Cocktail Chevrolet, 29.405, 183.642
20) Hermie Sadler, No. 66 Peak Fitness Ford, 29.429, 183.492
21) Derrike Cope, No. 60 Year One Chevrolet, 29.545, 182.772
22) Boris Said, No. 36 CENTRIX Financial Chevrolet, 29.556, 182.704
23) Eric McClure #, No. 92 Morgan-McClure Racing Chevrolet, 29.645, 182.156
24) Mike Wallace, No. 4 Wide Open Energy Drink Chevrolet, 29.759, 181.458
25) Kirk Shelmerdine, No. 27 Freddie B’s Ford, 30.080, 179.521
26) Morgan Shepherd, No. 89 Red Line Oil/Racing with Jesus Dodge, 30.239, 177.577
27) Scott Riggs, No. V10 Valvoline Chevrolet, NT, -
28) Jason Leffler, No. 11 FedEx Ground Chevrolet, NT, -
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