PHOENIX, Oct. 26 (UPI) -- Rookie Casey Atwood won his first career NASCAR Winston Cup pole Friday in qualifying for Sunday's Checker Auto Parts 500 at Phoenix International Raceway.
Atwood became the 17th different driver to win a Winston Cup pole this season, driving his Dodge around the 1.0-mile track at 131.296 miles per hour.
"It's real exciting. I'm really happy for everybody on this team," said Atwood, who drives for Evernham Motorsports. "Bill Elliott, my teammate, got a pole earlier this year and I'm glad to get one at the end of this year."
Fellow Dodge driver John Andretti was second at 131.071 mph, followed by Jeff Burton in a Ford at 130.976 mph. Rusty Wallace was fourth in a Ford at 130.933 mph, with Ross Thompson fifth at 130.804 mph.
