NASCAR makes one if its two visits to the newly named New Hampshire Motor Speedway this weekend for the Lenox Industrial Tools 301 (because 300 laps weren't enough for you) and qualifying turned out a big surprise as Patrick Carpentier stole the pole away from Bobby Labonte towards the end of a rain-delayed qualifying session. The last time Carpentier found himself leading a field to the green flag was in a Champ Car at Laguna Seca in 2004."It's amazing," said Carpentier."The car was great. We made a couple of changes from this morning and the car just rotated beautifully through the middle of the corner. It was just stuck on the track. I'm real happy.
"Honestly, if I had won the first pole on a road course I wouldn't be as happy," he added. "I want to do well on the ovals because that is where they do most the racing in this series." Carpentier who makes his 17th career start on Sunday, hopes to get his first top 20 finish.
Being in New Hampshire means that were close to Boston. Which means we have to hear about all those god damn Boston sports championships. Of course with Roush-Fenway Racing having ties to the Boston Red Sox means we get to see all of their cars decked out with reminders of how much I hate the city of Boston. David Ragan's car is decorated in Red Sox colors for Sunday's race, while Matt Kenseth's car has decal commemorating the Boston Celtics� recent NBA championship. Hey, how about one for the Patriot's accomplishment of 19-0 and the win in Super Bowl XLII? Oh wait, they didn't get it! And what have the Bruins or the Revolution done lately? Yeah, that�s what I thought. Suck on that, Boston.
Anyway the New Hampshire Motor Speedway, despite its smug neighbors to the south, will provide some great action and maybe a surprise or two. (Can we say David Ragan, winner of a Sprint Cup Race?) The race will start a little after 2 pm eastern, Sunday on TNT.
Carpentier wins 1st Cup Pole [Seattlepi.com]
