Montoya Sets Qualifying Record for Chase Opener on Heluva Good! Pole Day
Loudon, NH — Mark Martin has said that Juan Pablo Montoya is the guy that looks to be the most dangerous in the “Chase for NASCAR Sprint Cup.”
Martin’s statement was validated by Montoya’s record-setting Heluva Good! Pole Day run for the SYLVANIA 300 today. At a time of 28.545 seconds and a speed of 133.431 mph, Montoya broke Ryan Newman’s record of 133.357 mph (28.561 seconds) for the SYLVANIA 300 on September 12, 2003.
“It makes me feel good that Mark would say that,” said Montoya. “I’m always of the theory let the driving do the talking.”
Tony Stewart, points leader prior to the points being reset for the Chase, qualified second. Chase drivers Kurt Busch, Denny Hamlin, and Carl Edwards round out the top five starting positions. Six of the 12 “Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup” drivers will start in the top ten.
Sources: Fred Neergaard/New Hampshire Motor Speedway PR