Mark Martin wins pole for Kobalt Tools 500

Mark Martin, driver of the #5 Kellogg’s Chevy Impala for Hendrick Motorsports, claimed the pole for Sunday’s Kobalt Tools 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Friday night. This is the first pole for Martin since Pontiac Excitement 400 at Richmond International Raceway. The 50 year old qualified with a speed of 187.045 mph. Martin is the 2nd oldest pole winner ever [Harry Gant was is the oldest at 54 years, 7 months] This was his 42nd career pole. Kurt Busch will start from the outside of the front row for the 2nd time in 2 weeks. Forty seven drivers took part in qualifying for Sunday’s race. Todd Bodine, Scott Riggs, Jeremy Mayfield and Geoff Bodine failed to make the 43-car field.

Rounding out the Top 10:
#26-McMurray
#42-Montoya
#16-Biffle
#11-Hamlin
#48-Johnson
#87-Nemechek
#18-Busch
#29-Harvick.

Points leader, #24-Gordon will start 16th and #88-Earnhardt Jr. will start 20th. Green flag for the Kobalt Tools 500 is at 2:15pm eastern time on Fox.