Reutimann takes pole for Texas; points leader Gordon second
FORT WORTH, Texas -- David Reutimann earned the pole for NASCAR's Samsung 500 with a qualifying lap of 190.517 mph on Friday.
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"I guess that puts an exclamation mark on just how things have changed," said Reutimann, driving the No. 00 Toyota owned by Michael Waltrip.
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A year ago, the No. 00 was driven in Texas qualifying by rookie Michael McDowell, who escaped unscathed from a horrific, tumbling crash when he slammed into the wall and rolled at least eight times before coming to a rest at the bottom of the track.
Two years ago, the first for Waltrip's team, Reutimann didn't get a chance to race at Texas Motor Speedway after qualifying was canceled because of severe weather. The team didn't have enough points to get into the field.
"I remember it like it was yesterday. It was a miserable time in my life and we actually had a very good car," Reutimann said. "People tend to forget that it wasn't that long ago when we were struggling to absolutely make races. ... Going out there and getting poles shows that you're doing what you're supposed to do, and I think about those times often."
Reutimann, 11th in the season points, won his only other pole in last season's finale at Homestead. Waltrip will start 34th on Sunday.
Season points leader Jeff Gordon will start his Chevrolet on the outside of front row after a qualifying lap of 190.194 mph on a windy day. Texas is one of two active tracks where the four-time series champion with 81 race victories has never won.
Matt Kenseth will start third, followed by David Ragan, Paul Menard and Kasey Kahne.
Carl Edwards, who won both Texas races last year to become the track's first three-time winner, qualified 13th.
