McMurray on Pole and Other Lineup Oddities

Jamie McMurray starts on the pole today. That's only happened twice before in his five-year Nextel Cup career, the last time at the 2005 Pennsylvania 500 at Pocono Raceway on July 24, 2005. He finished 11th. His first Bud Pole Award came at Homestead in 2004 where he finished 9th.

Robby Gordon will start 2nd in the Toyota/SaveMart 350. Last time he started that high in the field was here in 2003. He won. He owes TGOM a thank you. Because he was excluded from the power rankings, he has a shot at repeating.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. starts 3rd. Previously, his best start at Infineon Raceway came in 2005, which didn't work out too well for him. He started 10th, finished 42nd.

Speaking of 42nd, that's where defending series champion Jimmie Johnson will start, making this only the third time in 199 starts that he has started this deep in the field.

His teammate, series points leader Jeff Gordon, who has started on the pole here five times, will start 41st. That'll be a new view for him. His previous worst starting position was 31st.

Why is the Hall of Fame Ringing?
Ron Fellows, in the #96 for Tony Raines, will start 11th. I have a question ... how is Tony Raines ever going to learn to road race if they keep pulling him out of the car? They didn't let him run it last year either. And it's not like they needed help qualifying. Raines currently sits in the 27th position in owner and driver points. Now he sits on the side for a week. And for what?

Really? All Those Toyotas?
Indeed. Despite Brian Vickers and A.J. Allmendinger not qualifying their Red Bull cars, the manufacturer has a record number of cars in this week's race: 6.

Marc Goossens will start 21st in the Riley D'Hondt #91 Toyota. Who? Oh yeah, he's the guy who tried last time at Watkins Glen International but crashed out.

Terry Labonte, in Michael Waltrip's #55, will start 25th. Good to have him back on the track and he didn't need the championship provisional. P.J. Jones will bring up the rear of the field in David Reutimann's #00.

Butch Leitzinger, in Jeremy Mayfield's #36 will start 30th. Who? No idea. He ran three Cup races at The Glen over a decade ago, but this will be his first at Infineon.

Dale Jarrett starts 16th, a season best. Dave Blaney 19th.

Loser of the Week
The #15 Menards Cheverolet. Where was Paul Menard's ringer?

Not Odd
Boris Said will pull off 4th.