Team Toyota and Bill Davis Racing achieved a NASCAR first on Friday as veteran racer Dave Blaney, driver of the Number 22 Racing CAT Toyota Camry qualified for the pole position in Sunday’s Lenox Industrial Tools 300 Nextel Cup race at the New Hampshire International Speedway in Loudon, NH. It was the first pole this season and second career pole for Blaney, who clocked 129.437 miles per hour in the Toyota.
Blaney, who enters Sunday's 300-lap event just 37th in the standings, will be flanked on the front row by Kurt Busch, who clocked 129.182 mph in a Dodge Avenger.
In spite of the accomplishment, Blaney has only a 50/1 shot at winning the race according to oddsmakers at online sportsbook Bodog.com. The favorites tag goes to Tony Stewart of Joe Gibbs Racing, driving the Home Depot Chevrolet, installed with a solid 4/1 chalk.
Denny Hamlin, also of Joe Gibbs Racing and driver of the No. 11 Fed Ex Ground Chevrolet, is one of the favorites at 5/1 odds.
Current series points leader Jeff Gordon qualified eighth in a Chevrolet, while Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson will start 10th in a Chevy. The superstar duo made headlines earlier this week when NASCAR docked each driver 100 points and suspended their respective crew chiefs six races apiece. Oddsmakers expect Gordon to finish at or near the front having him installed with 5/1 odds while Johnson is set with a 9/2 odds chance.
Other favorites not mentioned are Kevin Harvick (8/1), Kyle Busch (9/1), Kurt Busch (12/1), Jeff Burton (12/1), Ryan Newman (12/1) and Jeff Burton and Martin Truex Jr., both at 14/1.
