TALLADEGA, Ala., April 23 (UPI) -- Ricky Rudd won his 29th career pole Friday, turning in the top qualifying time for the NASCAR Aaron's 499.
Rudd had a lap of 191.180 miles per hour in a Ford Taurus.
It was the first pole for the Wood Brothers team since Buddy Baker started from the top spot on March 18, 1984 at Atlanta =- a span of 630 races.
It also was Rudd's first pole in a restrictor plate race and first in 55 races at 2.66-mile Talladega Superspeedway. He is one of six drivers to compete in all 65 restrictor-plate races since NASCAR moved to slow its cars in 1988.
Rudd also scored a bit of an upset by denying the pole to two DEI entries. The Chevrolet Monte Carlo of Michael Waltrip was second-quickest at 190.974 mph, just ahead of teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr.
DEI cars have won the last five races at Talladega Superspeedway and 11 of the last 13 with restrictor plates.
