Motorsports

Truex, needing spark, earns pole

KANSAS CITY, Kan. - Martin Truex, clinging to a rapidly shrinking lead in the Busch Series, set a qualifying record for Kansas Speedway on Friday with a lap of 178.938 mph in his Chevrolet.

The pole is the second of the year for the defending series champion, who leads Clint Bowyer by 26 points going into today's United Way 300. Bowyer will start 10th.

"We tested here a week and a half ago, and didn't really have such a good test," Truex said. "We kind of rode around for two days and didn't seem to learn much, or couldn't do much to change the way the car handled. But today was a good day."

On a cool afternoon at the 11/2-mile tri-oval, with highs in the mid 50s, the top three qualifiers all broke the series record of 178.365 mph set by Michael Waltrip in 2003.

Jon Wood, who won a NASCAR truck series race here in 2003, qualified second at 178.832 in a Ford. Regan Smith, in a Dodge, was third at 178.761.

Truex led Bowyer by 204 points on Aug. 20, but lost ground in four races since. Last month, he was penalized 25 points for making an obscene gesture in a race Sept. 9 at Richmond.

Kevin Harvick, who qualified 26th, left immediately after his laps to return to his home in Winston-Salem, N.C. He was expected to return for the race and Sunday's Nextel Cup event.

Harvick's father-in-law, John Paul Linville, has been battling a lingering illness.

Harvick had been scheduled to be the 26th qualifier out, but NASCAR allowed him to go first. If he does not return, Jeff Burton will drive his car in the Busch race and Bowyer is on standby for Cup qualifying.

NHRA: Pro Stock racers Bruce Allen and Kenny Koretsky were involved in a two-car accident during second-qualifying session at the O'Reilly NHRA Fall Nationals in Ennis, Texas, NHRA.com reported. The Web site said both men were conscious and alert when they were transported to a Dallas hospital. Koretsky climbed from his car on his own. Allen's car overturned onto its right side and slid into the path of Koretsky's car.

FORMULA ONE: Kimi Raikkonen had yet another engine failure during practice for tonight's Japanese Grand Prix, forcing another engine change and another 10-spot penalty on the grid. It is the fourth time in nine races the McLaren driver has been forced to lose spots on the grid because of an engine change.

[Last modified October 8, 2005, 01:26:19]