Darrell Waltrip finally had the kind of day Friday that used to be routine for the three-time Winston Cup champion.
The 48-year-old Waltrip, now an owner-driver, won a pole for the first time in more than three years, taking the top qualifying spot for Sunday’s NAPA 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Waltrip turned a lap of 185.046 m.p.h. on the 1.522-mile oval to become the 15th pole winner of the season.
Meanwhile, Jeff Gordon went about the business of trying to wrap up his first Winston Cup championship in a businesslike manner, qualifying eighth at 184.138.
Dale Earnhardt, whose only hope of winning his third straight series title rests with the unlikely combination of Gordon finishing last Sunday while Earnhardt wins the race and leads the most laps, qualified 11th.
Waltrip, whose last previous pole came on April 26, 1992 at Martinsville, Va., 113 races ago, now has a career total of 59.
“I’ve won a lot of poles, but I just can’t remember when the last time was,” Waltrip joked.
