Toyota wins first Nextel Cup pole

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LOUDON, N.H., June 29 (UPI) -- Dave Blaney gave Toyota its first Nextel Cup pole Friday, turning in the fastest lap in qualifying for Sunday's Lenox Industrial Tools 300 in Loudon, N.H.

Toyota came into the Nextel Cup series with much fanfare this year, but the manufacturer has had little success in its debut season of competition against rivals Ford, Chevrolet and Dodge.

"We've had a tough year," Blaney said. "We've had so many DNFs (did not finish) it's been killing us. But the guys never give up, their attitudes are great, they dig in and it's paying off."

Blaney had a lap time of 29.426 seconds over the one-mile oval. It was the second qualifying victory of his career and his first in four years.

Kurt Busch had the second fastest time, followed by Reed Sorenson and Johnny Sauter. Juan Montoya, who won for the first time as a Nextel Cup driver last week on a road course in California, was fifth.

Points leader Jeff Gordon will start eighth.