KFDM COOP Posted February 12, 2007 Report Posted February 12, 2007 Jr. starting 2007 slow .......DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- A rookie who had trouble finding the tunnel into Daytona International Speedway last month and a 50-year-old who came out of retirement took the front row for an organization that was left for dead a year ago.Ricky Rudd, left, and David Gilliland teamed up to put Robert Yates Racing on the front row for the 49th Daytona 500.A Colombian driver who made his fame in Formula One was fourth fastest and a 72-year-old trying to make history was 58th out of 61.NASCAR's most popular driver was a candidate for NASCAR's unhappiest driver and Toyota's new slogan "Lead the Way" was anything but appropriate, with no Camry faster than 14th.Two drivers had their qualifying laps disallowed and their crew chiefs could be suspended.Welcome to qualifying for the Daytona 500.All we know for sure is David Gilliland and Ricky Rudd of Robert Yates Racing will start 1-2 next Sunday and that four other drivers outside of the top 35 in points from 2006 are guaranteed a spot in the 43-car field based on speed or through a past champion's provisional.The rest of the field will be determined in Thursday's two 150-mile qualifying races.That means even a long shot such as James Hylton, vying to become the oldest driver to make a Nextel Cup event, still has a shot."Didn't hit nothing," Hylton said after climbing out of his car. "It felt great."Juan Pablo Montoya also felt good, posting the fourth-best lap in his second Cup race since leaving F1. Boris Said, Sterling Marlin and Johnny Sauter felt good because they are guaranteed a spot in the 500 based on speed if they don't gain a spot based on their finish in the 150s.Dale Earnhardt Jr. didn't feel good, leaving in somewhat of a huff after posting the 22nd-fastest lap.Two-time champion Michael Waltrip, who had the intake manifold of his No. 55 Toyota confiscated before qualifying and his car impounded afterward, also left in a hurry after posting the 24th-best lap.Crew chiefs Kenny Francis (Kasey Kahne) and Robbie Reiser (Matt Kenseth) weren't happy after their qualifying speeds were disallowed because of unapproved devices that could get them ejected from the 500 as Chad Knaus (Jimmie Johnson) was a year ago.Dale Jarrett wasn't happy with his lap that was 50th, but at least he's guaranteed a spot in the 500 as a past champion if he doesn't earn a spot on Thursday.Come on Jr. Nail one of those 150-mile qualifiers Thursday. Get close enough to the front to "run for the roses" ... so to speak.
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